Devotionals

Last week, we started looking at different preachers and evangelists starting with Dwight Moody.  With this intention still in mind, I want to still continue looking and examining at these individuals who have made a name for themselves when it comes to evangelism.  This week, we are going to look at a man named Ira David Sankey (1840-1908).  One interesting thing about Sankey is that he wasn’t always an evangelist.  While he was born of a prominent state senator, banker, editor, and even a member of the Internal Revenue Service collection staff under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, Sankey was a soldier fighting in the Civil War for the Union Army from 1860 to 1862).  After his time serving in the army, he started to work in the IRS as an agent.  In 1871, Sankey began his ministry career as a singing evangelist.  What?  A singing evangelist?  Indeed he was.  He served alongside Dwight Moody for more than 30 years.  Moody picked Sankey as a song leader when they attended a convention up at the Indianapolis YMCA in 1871.  Since then, they have served within evangelism.  He is commonly referred as the “father of gospel music.”  (Sorry Elvis).  When these two men teamed up, they became the first ever evangelistic preacher-singer team.  They traveled all over the world, including the two years that Moody spent in Great Britain as part of the Moody Crusades.  In the late 1870s, a new genre of music, known as the gospel song or gospel hymn, came into play.  Since then, there have been a wide variety of artists have dipped their feet into the gospel music arena such as Elvis Presley, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Josh Turner, and a whole lot more.  

Challenge 

I want to challenge you to think about what it means to step out in faith.  Not too long ago, I spoke about this idea during my sermon “Step Out of the World, Step into His Word” referring from Matthew 14:22-33.  In the Great Commission in Matthew 28, Jesus tells us to go into the world and make disciples of all nations as well as baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  So, He is telling us to step out of the boat of familiarity and comfort and step into the direction and obedience of Christ.  He is the one who will provide for us, not the world nor the things of this world.  Ask yourself: Am I staying in the boat or am I stepping out of it? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for Your continuous strength and wisdom as we continue to do the things that You have called us to.  As we grow Your Kingdom, let us not be ashamed of it.  Instead, let us embrace it and let Your word shine before others so that the darkness will flee and Your light will shine through.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.  

Intro: Luke’s writings in the Book of Acts picks up—with life in the Spirit—where the Gospels [highlighting Christ’s life, death, and resurrection] leave off. Luke shares about the establishment and the expansion of the Church—believers and lovers of God through Christ. Because of the power of the Spirit released to these believers, they must learn to obey Christ as their Supreme authority and live for his redemptive purposes (Mat 28:18-20). This was true for the early Church and it is true for us as God’s children led by the Spirit, today. No matter what the world or religious organizations proclaim to be acceptable to God, our obedience to Christ—the Living Word of Truth—must be the foundation for the decisions and obedience that guides our lives.

In our passage this morning, the apostle’s passionate proclamation of the Gospel provokes the religious counsel members [powerful and wealthy Sadducees who are in control of the Temple] to take action against them. The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection or want to hear anything that would diminish their authority over the people, so they rise up to silence and destroy God’s messengers of Truth.

The Sadducees demand respect and honor for their teaching and authority, but due to their sin of omission [failure to honor Christ], they do not receive what they expect. These religious leaders are driven by jealousy and greed. The honor the apostles give to God, the religious leaders want for themselves. Therefore, these leaders have the apostles arrested by the Temple guards and placed in jail.

However, just as Jesus promised, persecution does bring blessings and an opportunity to conform more closely to the life and character of Jesus. God’s purpose will always prevail and we see how God sends his angels to dispense grace in order to rescue and release his Christlike apostles from jail. As well, the Spirit sends these apostles back to the Temple to courageously continue sharing the message of Christ, so they obey. It would have been tempting to run away rather than to return to the Temple again to proclaim an unwelcome Truth, wouldn’t it? May we boldly proclaim what Christ has placed in our hearts, today!

Acts 5:17-26 NLT The Apostles Meet Opposition
17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.

When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council[a]—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial. 22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the courage we gain from reading about your apostles and how bravely they faced religious persecution. Whatever difficulties we may face, please help us to persevere and allow it to make us more like Jesus. As well, help us to be vocal with our convictions and be ready to give the reason we bow to the authority of the Living Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: You and I—all humanity—are deeply and sacrificially loved by a Holy God. It is hard for us to comprehend God’s deep and sacrificial love for us, because we are so unworthy of it. However, in spite of our inconsistencies to live righteously for our Holy God, believers are given mercy and love in Christ while we learn obedience. God loves his fallen human creation and continues to provide a way in Christ for redeeming us.

When Jesus—the Righteous One—descended to earth, he identified with humanity to become a little lower than the angels. Through the sinless life and death of Christ—a supreme act of grace—all things are now accountable to him as the Head and one day, as his redeemed Church, we will rule and reign with him.
In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8 when he speaks of the position God originally gave to human beings. We failed to take the proper dominion over sin, but Jesus did not. Jesus is the Head who represents humanity for the honor and glory of the Father—he is the Anointed One.

So, the promise has been given to us—one day we will rule and reign with Christ. Yet, until he returns for his Church, we presently must endure a variety of difficulties because sin and death still exists in the world. Therefore, we must allow God’s grace to impact our lives every day—to grow in grace and rely on its work (2 Peter 3:18; Acts 13:43). Never forget it is grace that is at the heart of God’s message and it is grace that sustains us in Christ. Have a grace-filled day with Jesus!

Hebrews 2:5-9 NLT Jesus, the Man
5 And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. 6 For in one place the Scriptures say,
“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,    or a son of man [human existence] that you should care for him?
7 
Yet for a little while you made them [humanity in general] a little lower than the angels    and crowned them with glory and honor [gave them charge of everything you made].
8 
You gave them authority over all things.”

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for forgiving our sin against your love and for sending the Son of Man to take dominion in this world. As we wait for Christ’s return, please provide the grace we need to obey and honor you, because we desperately need your help. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: How do you view prayer? How does grace merge with prayer? Over the past few months, God has been convicting me about prayer, as well as urging me to pray about every aspect of each day. As I go through my day, I am to set myself up to receive his grace [power for living] in an ongoing fashion [cascading—like water pouring downward rapidly in large quantities]. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8).

I do not typically pray for myself in specifics; I simply give myself into the care of God in the morning and thank him in the evening when I lay my head back down to rest. However, God is leading me to be very specific now with my prayers as I seek to be a resource of blessing to others. Because life seems to be getting increasingly more challenging to our Christian witness, I am to ask him specifically for the grace I need to minister to each need or task moment by moment and without fear.

In our passage today, Jesus goes to the mountain to pray all night, because he must select twelve of his followers who will go forward as his emissaries [representatives or agents of Christ’s mission]. As well, the Father is preparing Jesus, so he prays for the wisdom to know who to choose, as well as prays for the grace [power] to bring the truth and healing to those who would be seeking him the next day.

Over the past few months in our Chosen Bible Study time, we have met many of these disciples who were chosen to serve as Christ’s representatives. The series reveals the disciples as unique in their backgrounds and personalities, as well as unique in their gifts. Scripture leads us to know this is the truth. Each one is essential, even Judas; the other eleven will fulfill the will of the Father by carrying on the mission of Christ after he ascends back to the Father.

My friends, we are those emissaries who must endure and travail for the truth in our generation. So, I pass onto you my lessons; to speak into your lives and encourage you to pray each day for the grace you need to be a blessing in Christ to others. Grace [the ongoing benevolent act and power of God] is essential and Jesus told us so, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).

Luke 6:12-19 VOICE
12 Around this time, Jesus went outside the city to a nearby mountain, along with a large crowd of His disciples. He prayed through the night to God. 13 The next morning, He chose 12 of them and gave each a new title of “emissary.”

14 They included Simon (Jesus called him Peter) and Andrew (Simon’s brother); James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James (son of Alphaeus) and Simon (known as the Zealot); 16 Judas (son of James) and the other Judas (Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus).

17 The whole crowd of disciples (including the 12 now designated as His emissaries) came down together, and they stood on a level area nearby. They were joined by an even greater crowd of people who had come from across the whole region—from all of Judea, from Jerusalem, from the coastal areas of Tyre and Sidon. 18 These people came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed by Jesus of their diseases. Those who were troubled by demonic spirits were liberated.

19 Everyone wanted to touch Jesus because when they did, power emanated from Him and they were healed.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the grace each of us, as your children, need to operate in your character and mission today. For each task or encounter we face, I pray for us to invite you and your grace into it and to serve you in that place. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Joy—a sense of wholeness and well-being—is a beautiful gift the world cannot give anyone. Therefore, joy is not the same as happiness. We can experience happiness in the world, but it is fleeting, because what may make us happy today could change by tomorrow. That is the danger of living by our will or emotions; we are fickle and finite. I find happiness in many relationships, but not every relationship leaves me with a sense of well-being or joy. The fullness of joy, on the other hand, is only found in the presence of God, through Christ, and in the Spirit. Joy is always inexpressible and overwhelming, because it is supernatural (Ps 16:11).

In our passage for today, Israel is returning from their second exile due to God’s judgment; the first exile was in Egypt and the second was in Babylon. The Israelites have learned the hard way that God means what he says about idolatry. When God is finished teaching them about his sovereign rule and why they should honor him above all, like Moses leading the people through the wilderness, God mercifully leads his people toward freedom in Zion and a new beginning.

The freedom before the Israelites seems surreal, because their past 70 years have been so awful. The Lord moves them from sorrow into joy and laughter. So, they praise the Lord with shouts and singing. But, beyond their praise, the people cry out for God to restore not only their freedom, but deliver them into a prosperous and new spiritual life. The exile left them spiritually empty, broken, and in need of restoration.

Jesus does this for every believer, because the world does a devastating number on our souls. We can very easily find ourselves captives to sin and the destructive behaviors of ourselves or others. Yet, Jesus comes to rescue us and deliver us into the shalom of God, so we may be restored by his presence and walk in his plan and purpose. Praise God, it is never too late to call on the name of the Lord for salvation. Rise up, pilgrims!

Psalm 126 NLT A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 
When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
    it was like a dream!
2 
We were filled with laughter,
    and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
    “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
3 
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
    What joy!
4 
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    as streams renew the desert.
5 
Those who plant in tears
    will harvest with shouts of joy.
6 
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
    but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Prayer: Lord, you truly do amazing things for us as your children. Thank you! Please restore the weary souls of your sons and daughters and cause us to be filled with your joy, today. In Jesus’ name.

During yesterday’s sermon, Pastor Mary spoke about allowing Jesus the proper spiritual authority within our lives. Although you and I reside on earth and our soul (which is our mind, will and emotions) wants to align with the ways of this world, we must stand in oneness with Jesus and allow Him the spiritual authority to move us (along with our soul) within the direction that He created us to prosper and to further grow His Kingdom.

In today’s passage, Moses has died and now the Lord has commissioned Joshua, who was Moses’ assistant, to lead the Israelites into the promised land. It is obvious even prior to reading this Word that Joshua would be experiencing sadness, fear, loneliness, and possible feelings of being in over his head. But you will notice that the Lord tells Joshua three times within this passage to “be strong and courageous”. In verse 8 the Lord specifically guides Joshua by instructing him to “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” The Lord goes on to tell Joshua that there is no need for fear or to be discouraged because He is with him wherever he goes.

Friends, this passage isn’t only for Joshua, and it isn’t only for those called into leadership, it is a calling for all of God’s kids. In the first few verses we are reminded of God’s promise to give to His people. In the middle section of this passage, God reminded us that in order to receive all that He has to give we must grow in our faith, and God is so gracious to give us specific instructions on what we need to do in order to grow. In the last few verses, God reminds us that He is always with us, with every breath that we take.

Joshua 1:1-11 (NLT)
The Lord’s Charge to Joshua

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua’s Charge to the Israelites

10 Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel, 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Prayer: Jesus, please forgive me when I run ahead, fall behind, or step sideways from Your plan for my life. Holy Spirit, I need Your guidance each and every day. I submit my soul to You, as I want to continue to grow in my faith. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for always being with me. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Last week, we started to look at some different evangelists from the Bible.  While looking at different individuals from the Bible is important and it still is, it is also good for us to look at other preachers throughout history who have made an impact when it comes to evangelism and how they have shaped evangelism going forward for us to learn from.  I have mentioned Martin Luther from the Reformation Movement in 1517 who went against the Catholic Church and was letting people know about Jesus from a relational perspective.  Another person that I can think of when it comes to evangelism is Issac Watts (1674-1748).  When it came to Watts, he was really big into worship and how worship was supposed to be.  He was known as “the father of English hymnody.”  He placed heavy emphasis on this idea: “a Christian song should express the thoughts and feelings of those who sang rather than merely relate the experiences and circumstances of the psalm writers of the Old Testament.”  He had a heart dedicated to worship.  Another person I can think of is Dwight L Moody (1837-1899).  He began a different kind of evangelism called “The Gospel Wagon.”  It would be like a Sunday school bus.  He had a passion for making sure that children would know Jesus at an early age and helping them grow.  In 1859, his Sunday school class became the largest class in the entire Chicago area.  In 1860 as a young 23 year old, he was preaching the gospel to Union soldiers during the Civil War.  Eventually, he started The Moody Church in 1871.  When a fire destroyed the building, he decided to travel but it eventually took a toll on him and he actually took a break from ministry in 1872.  He went to England and was preaching at his friend’s church and felt like there was a disconnection between the people and the gospel.  The more that he preached, the more engaged people were getting.  While spending his time in England, Moody started different evangelical campaigns with Ira Sankey in 1873.  The point of this story is not about sharing something about a preacher or how he preached.  The point is to place emphasis on that he went across the sea to spread the word of God to all people.  He was following the Great Commission based in Matthew 28:19-20.  This is just one of the many examples of evangelism in the modern era.  Moody was part of what was called the Laymen’s Prayer Revival from 1857-1890.  

Challenge 

Think about yourselves for a moment: how bold are you to share the gospel?  There have been people throughout the course of history who had the courage and the boldness to stand up for Jesus.  We will examine and view some things in the upcoming weeks, but it’s important to examine some things from the modern era as well.  Paul tells us to “examine ourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5) as well as not being ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16).  When it comes for your opportunity to share the gospel, how do you respond?  Fearful or courageous?  If you are courageous, keep it up.  If you are fearful, don’t be.  In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul writes “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”  If you say you don’t have the spirit of fear, then be bold and strong because God is with you.  I challenge you to put your fears aside and surrender it to God because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for Your continuous strength and wisdom as we continue to do the things that You have called us to.  As we grow Your Kingdom, let us not be ashamed of it.  Instead, let us embrace it and let Your word shine before others so that the darkness will flee and Your light will shine through.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.  

Intro: It has been said that history repeats itself, because humans rarely learn from the mistakes of the past. For example, God declared Israel’s idolatry—her unfaithful national practices and false worship—would lead the people into exile if they did not turn back to him. Because they continued in idolatry, God’s people lived in slavery to Egypt for 400 years before their exodus. But even following their deliverance, during the 40 years in the wilderness, the people were quick to forget how idolatry cost them their freedom.

So, while Moses is being given the commandments on Mount Sinai, the people are at the base of the mountain worshiping the pagen god Molech [meaning to rule; a golden calf/bull idol served by child sacrifice] and the pagen god Rephan [meaning to sink down; the wandering star or god of Rome/sickel]. Generation after generation, they fall into idolatry. Israel spends roughly 70 years in Babylonian captivity, before God liberates them. Lastly, the nation suffers with Roman oppression, because Israel does not understand God’s plan and purpose to rid them of sin— having any god but him.

To lead us into the passage for today, the disciple, Stephen, has become a victim of lies, because he is proclaiming salvation in Jesus. Stephen is accused of blasphemy [disrespecting the Most High God] and inciting a riot among the people, so the Jewish leaders [Sanhedrin] arrest him and impose false charges against him. Instead of going to his own defense, Stephen responds to how the Torah points to Jesus the Christ as the answer for Israel’s history of idolatry/sin and God’s judgment.

When you look at our culture and national practices, as well as measure it with biblical history, is the god Molech [ruler for child sacrifice] or the god Rephan [sink down or be cut down] still being worshiped? Are we still bowing to idolatry—unfaithful national practices and false worship? If so, we haven’t learned from the mistakes of the past either.

Acts 7:35-43 NLT
35 [Stephen speaking of Moses] “So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ Through the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush, God sent Moses to be their ruler and savior. 36 And by means of many wonders and miraculous signs, he led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness for forty years.

37 “Moses himself told the people of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people.’ 38 Moses was with our ancestors, the assembly of God’s people in the wilderness, when the angel spoke to him at Mount Sinai. And there Moses received life-giving words to pass on to us.
39 “But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us some gods who can lead us, for we don’t know what has become of this Moses, who brought us out of Egypt.’ 41 So they made an idol shaped like a calf, and they sacrificed to it and celebrated over this thing they had made. 42 Then God turned away from them and abandoned them to serve the stars of heaven as their gods! In the book of the prophets it is written,
‘Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings
    during those forty years in the wilderness, Israel?
43 
No, you carried your pagan gods—
    the shrine of Molech,
    the star of your god Rephan,
    and the images you made to worship them.
So I will send you into exile
    as far away as Babylon.’

Prayer: Father, thank you for the reminders your Word brings for your children so we can learn from the past. Wake us up! May your sons and daughters invite you to empower us to overcome every idolatrous temptation that would, in any way, dishonor you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: We must guard ourselves from thinking about Jesus as just a loving being who is kind and compassionate to oppressed people. Although this is most certainly true, there is a great deal more to consider when saying we are partners together in Christ. To be a partner with Jesus, as his follower, is to pursue a growing and holy life in the Spirit (James 1:18). This is the only way to remain faithful to the genuine gospel of Christ.

Jesus came to save and forgive us from the sin of our fallen nature, build us into his righteous character, and call us to faithfully live in the new life he offers while we encourage others to join God’s family and start the journey for themselves. We belong to the Father’s Household when we welcome and embrace the whole work of Christ. Jesus builds the House of God [his people] into his image; Christ is our genuine image of holy faith.

In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews reminds those who profess to be Christians that Jesus is the truest Hero of the faith that pleases the Father. Moses was appointed by God as a prophet to the people, but Jesus IS God and the One who actually sent Moses to lead his people toward truth. When we remain focused on the truth of Jesus and what he actually came to do through redemption [helping us regain the life we were created to live from the beginning], we will not minimize his power or usurp his place and purpose for our lives. God is the divine Builder of every life that pleases him and Jesus is the One in whose image we are being made. So, when Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him, he is inviting us on a journey to be recreated in his holy image (Mat 16:24). Therefore, the world has no authority to tell you who you are or what is acceptable to God; so deny that unholy word and surrender yourself to the truth. If you profess to be a partner with Jesus, you are being made in his image; he is the divine Builder of you as a son or daughter of the Father! Take courage and put your hope and identity where it belongs…in Jesus! Grace—Christ’s divine help and strength—will make you victorious. We are saved by faith through grace when we believe the truth (Eph 2:8).

Hebrews 3:1-6 NLT Jesus Is Greater Than Moses
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters [holy ones] who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger [Apostle] and High Priest. 2 For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house.
3 But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.
5 Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ [faithful to the end].

Prayer: Father, as your children who seek to follow Jesus, help us to be excited about our future in your loving care. Lord, you are our Apostle who is set apart. You are our High Priest with supreme authority. You are our Builder and your image is the goal of our faith. Draw us closer to you each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: There is a Hebrew word I would like to share with you that is relevant for us, today—להשוות or lehashvot—which basically translates in English as equate, match, or compare. In our passage, the Pharisees have taken the Commands or Word of God and are endeavoring to judge others. The Pharisees are holding up the letter of the law, but are missing God’s intent, as well as their own hypocrisy—they have a double standard for acceptable conduct. That will always happen when people use themselves as the standard rather than God.

Gleaning or plucking grain and taking it from a neighbor’s field was permitted on the Sabbath when people were hungry (Deut 23:25). However, harvesting—laboring for the purpose of making money—was not permitted on the Sabbath. Jesus speaks the truth to defend his disciples against their accusers.
Interestingly, the Pharisees are actually the ones guilty of violating the Sabbath by their lack of mercy and compassion for others. The words and actions of Jesus are about the intent of the law—helping God’s people display his holy character and principles. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and our purpose is to serve and worship God. The intent of the Sabbath is to gather and connect people to Christ as worshipers.

Although we can witness a double standard—a rule or principle which is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups in our world—this should never be the behavior of God’s children. Pray and run from that evil spirit. As Christ’s followers, we are to be consistent in honor and respect; filled with compassion and mercy because Christ is our standard. We are to first judge [evaluate] ourselves before judging others. It reminds me of something Jesus said, “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye, when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” (Mat 7:3-5).

Matthew 12:1-8 Amplified Bible
1 At that particular time Jesus went through the fields of standing grain on the Sabbath; and His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick off the spikes of grain and to eat.

2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, See there! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful and not permitted on the Sabbath.

3 He said to them, Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, and those who accompanied him—

4 How he went into the house of God and ate the loaves of the showbread—which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for the men who accompanied him, but for the priests only?

5 Or have you never read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the sanctity of the Sabbath [breaking it] and yet are guiltless?

6 But I tell you, Something greater and more exalted and more majestic than the temple is here!

7 And if you had only known what this saying means, I desire mercy [readiness to help, to spare, to forgive those in distress] rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of Man is Lord [even] of the Sabbath.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us better understand how we must conduct ourselves as your worshipers in the midst of a world filled with double-standards. May we emulate a spirit of mercy and compassion using Jesus as our standard. In Jesus’ name. Amen.