Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I have decided to take a few weeks off writing, beginning now, to regroup, rest and enjoy spending time with family.
I think about our Lord’s directive to His disciples: “Come aside and rest awhile”, Jesus
See you in September: Enjoy your summer!
Glen Jackman
“And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 2:17)
Have you ever felt that you are too worried about people or things outside of your immediate control – that perhaps you don’t trust God the way that the Word informs you that you should? Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow. When I worry it is usually NOW, not tomorrow or about the future.
Looking at our focal text, we can see an immediate worry of Gehazi, Elisha’s assistant who began to fear for his life. The King of Aram (present day Syria) sent an army to capture Elisha the prophet because he knew that he was pre-warning Israel about his looming military tactics, which were always known in advance, spoiling Aram’s military strategies. Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened so that he could spiritually discern God’s protection surrounding them.
Can this apply to me as a father, aware that my daughter is driving in the BC Rockies when I spot a freak snow storm in her path? These are the kind of worries I have had, as a father. It doesn’t help that I am a weather nut with three apps on all my devices. I check BC weather daily, in two cities where my son (my eldest of 4 children) and my youngest of three daughters live. Having lost a brother in a car accident due to a drunk driver, I can worry about my family’s safety often.
The apostle Paul wrote an oft-quoted Bible verse which comforts many people in trials: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)
The thought may come to my mind, “Yeah, but Paul was single and did not have children to be concerned about!” Then the Holy Spirit brings to my mind that Paul endured an intense hurricane for a time and suffered shipwreck, yet Paul took to calling on the Lord in prayer. He was assured of his safety because he discerned from the Lord whom He prayed to, that no one would come to harm on the ship if they stayed aboard, including the non-Christian crew.
The gospel record records that Jesus also comforted His disciples who were frightened during a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus questioned their faith, yet commanded the sea to become still and brought the boat to safety. The disciples were amazed and claimed that Jesus had sovereign powers over creation: “even the winds and the seas obey Him” (see Mathew 8:27; Mark 4:41; Luke 8:22-25; also John 1:3, Colossians 1:16).
In situations where I worry, I’ve realised that all I can do is make the phone calls of warning as best I can, and help to assist as far as possible. The most important thing I can do is go to my Bible on my knees, and lay out God’s promises and pray over my favourite verses such as “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 ESV) More importantly, I am reminded that Jesus is Sovereign and one in power with the Father: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17 ESV).
I realise that I must seek the Lord, admit my need for godliness – for His indwelling Spirit, submit to Him in obedience — and further submit my worries to Him, making my requests to him to protect my children, secondly to mitigate my terrifying spiritual weakness. I can trust my Lord because “in him all things hold together”.
Like the apostles in the storm, I rely on His Sovereign powers of control when I admit that I am powerless. I have come to realise that this is one of the ways that God builds my faith and develops my relationship with Him, through my anxious suffering.
My eldest daughter said kindly over lunch after church recently, “Dad, it’s out of your control. Counsel can help alleviate your stress.” Hmm, I agree. I’ve always told Christin that she is wise with her deliberations, that wisdom is one of her gifts.
I’ve utilised Christian psychological counsel often over the years, seeking to find a mean calibration of spiritual concern, which admittedly can shift to extreme take-charge now when I occasionally might get shaken up like Elisha’s servant during “unseen” risk deliberations. Psychological balance while trusting Christ helps me reason better — I’m not perfect yet — and hopefully pray more objectively while staying calm, understanding that God is the first father of my children. Jesus really understands behavioural worry. He said: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34 NLT) I can’t agree more.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14: 12-14)
The first great need of any man who has a troubled heart or his Christian life isn’t lived to its full potential is to believe, to get back to the place of believing. This sounds too simple. Yet it is what Christ told His disciples before His death, resurrection and ascension. If you believe in Me, essentially He told them “you will do the works I have been doing.” Belief also opens up the door to faith and the effects of faith in our life.
The disciples who walked with Jesus witnessed that He had rebuked a demon which had caused a sickness in a boy who was then healed instantly. Conversely, having trouble achieving similar results in their ministry, they asked Him: “Why could we not cast it out?” to which He responded, “Because of your little faith” (Matthew 17: 18-20 ESV)
After His resurrection, our focal scripture indicated that Jesus promised His disciples that they would be able to do what they cannot do now, and what He used to do for them. By His resurrection and ascension, He works in them by the power of the Spirit – to effectively bring the power of the Spirit into their action, after He has departed.
Our Lord’s departure from the world is not the conclusion of His activity in the world amidst personal, political and ideological problems that humanity faces today. He is present in our ministries to our beloved Christian friends, and to those who likewise believe and those faltering in their belief. He is continuing together with us in His redemptive work to reach out to find those struggling with a profound understanding and a lack of objective effectiveness in their particular mode of faith – whatever the culture.
He is not absent in our lives individually nor from the ministration of common grace to the countless millions of men and women worldwide who have, who will and yes to those who may come to believe on His name for salvation.
He still is an ever-present power, and though He has passed through death on our behalf, and been removed from our physical sense perception, He still operates upon the things around us and moves events to coincide with His providences according to His will in our lives. Christ is all-powerful and ever-presently working in our lives! The continuous influence of His life continues. It is a present power in all ages.
Belief in Christ as our Redeemer and faith in His active life in us via His Spirit is necessary for a vibrant and joyous Christian experience. If you are lonely, He brings companionship to the solitary. He offers calmness in calamity, gives peace while weighing the complications of our faith and our weaknesses. We must grasp that the living Christ is working in us for His Father’s glory and outreaching to each of us, forth-putting His powers of influence and ministerial energy in His church today.
Before His ascension Jesus said: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15 NIV) In Mark’s narrative, we read that “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God” (vs. 19) As He worked with the disciples, He will work with us as we minister His word to others sharing the Gospel. “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it” (vs. 20) At the end of our Lord’s life on earth, there were one hundred and twenty disciples in Jerusalem and five hundred in Galilee. He told the disciples greater things you will do – the greater meaning the expansion of His kingdom on earth through the promulgation of the Gospel.
Now that we understand the need for believing on His name, and on having faith to do His works of expanding His kingdom, we need also a life of prayer which confess our complete dependence on Him. I go back to our main verse: “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
In my name, means, not a rote prayer as we often may do, finalizing it with repeated words ‘in Jesus name, Amen.’ Rather it means in His character, in His same faith in His Father and our total dependent connection to Him. This unity with our Lord is exactly what we need to sense His power working in our lives with all whom we connect. Jesus prayed for His disciples and you and I, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21 ESV) This is the secret to the continuum of believing in His work on earth — to be One with Jesus Christ via His indwelling Spirit. The parable of abiding in the vine teaches this truth: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:15 ESV)
Believe in His operative work in you by faith; connect to the living Christ just as He depended on His Father for guidance and success in His walk on earth and for our eternal future in His redemptive work of salvation.
“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a [heavy] wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]” (Luke 7:34 AMP)
In the world but not of it. Being sociable does not necessarily equate to being a friend whom you relate to as a brother or sister in Christ. We must be kind, and a friend — friendly to those we associate with — in extended family circles, in business, and in civil life in general — a sign of possessing influential character.
Jesus befriended Mathew, an infamous tax collector; immoral women, even one caught in adultery about to be stoned to death by the “religious” mob. He also was open to hearing a Roman centurion’s request to heal his servant (see Luke 7:34-50). All of these “sinners” religiously condemned by the Pharisees, and teachers of the law in Israel (the leadership) were not influenced to love God.
Nevertheless, they were moved by the non-partisan love of Jesus, who perceived their potential faith in Him and forgave their sin. Jesus noted that his disciples had a mission that must be carried out in a sinful world.
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them, I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified”. (John 17:16-19 NIV)
Association in ministry differs from collaborating with unbelievers as intimate friends, or marrying another with whom you would have children. The Apostle Paul was always sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Many became Christian brothers and sisters in Christ through his efforts. God’s purpose is that the Gospel must intergenerationally influence family members from the parents and grandparents, and fellowship amongst true believers for a continuance of His kingdom on earth.
Others like Paul and Christ’s disciples were called to separate themselves unto the calling to go out into the whole world — yes, among blatant sinners — and preach that they too have hope if they place their faith in Jesus — the hope of eternal life in Christ. Read the conversation that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well. He knew she was living in sin, yet he activated her faith with discretion and kindness. He perceived her as a child of God in the making. She perceived Him as a prophet in her awakening. The gentle patience of Christ opened her mind to hear Him tell her that He was the Messiah whom she awaited! She proclaimed Him to others in her town who all rushed out to see the Lord (see John chapter 4).
Paul spent time ministering to people in prison and to Greeks in Athens who had many false ideas about God. The encouragement and power of the indwelling Spirit must accommodate sharing the Word of God, as Satan will try to twist its meaning:
“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Mathew 4:2-4 NIV)
Be friendly in the context of sharing the Good News Convincing someone else that your godly ideas are good comes from association and discussion in the context of witnessing for Jesus while trusting the Holy Spirit to open the heart to God’s influence.
Christians meet at the Cross Guard against the mob mentality that “only my church owns the right doctrine”. Basing your viewpoints on the Word of God, use the logical mind, not the emotional mind to weigh the motives of men or women you would befriend. The war between the British Protestants and Catholic Irish in Northern Ireland would never have subsided without association and negotiation. When we truly meet Jesus, in our heart, in our mind’s eye, all unreasonable prejudice is removed. Together we all realize that He came to redeem all men who would see the grace offered at the foot of the Cross.
“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 NLT)
Dr. Henry Cloud wrote a piece for Success magazine 10 Things Successful People Never Do Again predicated on the idea that we have to change to progress. We must allow ourselves some pretty radical changes if we are to evolve in our life-journey. The Holy Spirit will lead us into the destiny that God is guiding us to in our distinct lives according to His higher values.
Chose your yoke-fellows wisely. The Scripture commands all Christians not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers? This scripture applies to marriage, business partnership, and church alignment. Paul offers profound insights into relationships. He writes out of both love and pain, about severing relationships and mending them. He writes in a way that is decidedly centered on God, as seen in the person of Christ. Paul is humble and meek; he is bold and adamant. Moses made it clear to the Israelites that ungodly influence can lead God’s people astray: “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped…for the LORD…is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you” (Exodus 34:12-14 NLT)
Why is it important to cut your ties with darkness? When Paul says, “Do not be unequally yoked,” he means first, that we should not associate with believers who don’t actually live for Jesus, and second, that engaging in any intimate relationship or partnership with someone who does not let Jesus be the center of their lives will ultimately lead to our demise. We must cut ties with whatever or whoever leads us to darkness. Influence can be subtly corrupting. “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. “Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord…and, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NIV)
Wasn’t Jesus loving? Christ engaged with people who didn’t understand who He was while on earth, to reach out to people and reveal the love of God. Nevertheless, He didn’t want to see relationships with unbelievers lead His followers into darkness. The Corinthian believers were to change the world, not to be changed by it. Paul wanted to see the Corinthian believers separate from their old way of living and fully embrace the ways of Jesus. Thus, his question which applies to all Christians today: How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?
Kindness versus close or intimate relations with non-believers must be understood in context. For more depth on this subject read Influencing others for Christ.
But this is complicated. False teachers and leaders are even within the church; old friends can turn on you and become your enemies, and there are broken relationships among the followers of our Lord. There may be things in the Bible that are very clear to one following the Lord closely adhering to the Word, to form correct doctrine while desiring to live according to Sola Scriptura. Within the church, some follow a man or a woman, who some may feel they have prophetic insight (who may say or write: “God told me” or “my angel said”). However, we must follow only the Lord’s teaching found in the Word of God and never follow a teaching that the Bible does not condone.
Consider that the educated doctorates of Israel did not believe the teachings of Jesus though He was their Messiah. The scripture regarding cutting our ties with darkness was written by Paul of Tarsus to the Corinthians. Paul had been one of the leading Pharisees (named Saul). He was a leading doctorate student taught by Dr. Gamaliel. He turned from the darkness of twisting scripture to follow Jesus Christ as did the Pharisee Nicodemus.
“Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” (Jeremiah 42:3 ESV)
The people of Judah came to the prophet Jeremiah asking for his prophetic guidance to know if they should go down to Egypt to avoid King Nebucannezar of Babylon and his armies.
“I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you.” Ten days later Jeremiah gets the answer from the Lord:
“…hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die. Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die..not one of them will survive” (Vss 16-17)
Often we feel that we have the right intention to do a certain thing, go somewhere, advise someone, begin a new job, leave a spouse, and some go as far as to seek the Lord’s will as the people of Judah did. Notice that Jeremiah, speaking God’s word said “‘If you are determined to go to”, and they were determined to go, and to disobey.
The people had even said: “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.” (Vss 5-6)
They quickly asserted their own determination, contrary to the Lord’s revealed will — and clearly though it was unfavourable to follow the Lord’s will: “all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there’.” (Jeremiah 43:2)
Consider your own actions, prayers, and self-determined will. How do you behave when the revealed will of God is clear in His Word — do your own plans ever get altered or reconfigured to line up with the Word of God? The danger is this: Self-will can avoid acting on the revealed will of God.
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90: 12 ESV)
Psalm 90 is a prayer offered by Moses on behalf of Israel as he considered the 40 years that they had wasted in the wilderness, frequently disobedient to the Lord. The main problem was that they would not trust God enough to move into the promised land. Rather they became fearful and complained, despite the encouraging report given by Caleb and Joshua that “we should go up and take possession of the land for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).
We can lose our most effective timing and greatest blessings while whining and complaining. This first Exodus generation wasted 14,600 days (40 years) due to fear, which the Lord viewed as contemptuous behaviour. God judged Israel for their mistrust (verses 14-12, 20-23)
In his prayer Moses asked the Lord to redeem the lost time for the next generation of Israelites: “Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.” (Psalms 90:15) Steve Jobs, though he was a highly successful man, faced a terminal illness — a shrinking lifespan. Being a meditative man, contemplating his remaining time, he became very focused:
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” Steve Jobs
David praised the Lord when he fathomed God’s presence in his foreordained life and acknowledged His creation of him. He also knew that his time remaining was preordained and measured: “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps 139:16 ESV) The following table depicts the approximated remaining 24 hour days left based on our current age, knowing that the Lord has numbered our particular allotted time on earth.
Charles Stanley, a great leader, and preacher continues to minister weekly. In his eighties, he frequently warns those who have deferred acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour from sin. He admonishes to accept the gift of eternal life, emphasizing that “you may not be alive tomorrow”. If you are not yet a Christian, this will help you find peace when you wondering “how long do I have?” or if you face an illness. When we begin to comprehend God’s Grace we are moved by love, which alone is The Motivation for Accepting Jesus
Consider your age and consider the days that you have remaining on this earth to serve the Lord and expand His kingdom, advocating the Gospel, helping the poor, encouraging others, while meeting your goals. Let’s learn to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Moses was 120 years old when the Lord took him. Don’t gamble your time away without rational purpose. You may not have quite that long.
If you doubt or fear death: The Manifesto of God’s Love
Using our time wisely: Living in view of the Second Advent of Christ
Why I take time seriously: My Testimony
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:34;44-46 ESV)
Some misrepresent God’s character as one of Judgement before Mercy is even considered. In some cultures and religions, hatred triumphs over Love. Christ expressed His Character of Love by enacting a strategy planned since the beginning of time with His Father to redeem man from himself, from his wrong ideas of God who created him.
At 3:00 PM Good Friday, 2000 years ago, Christ set all mankind free from all misconception. Judgement and Mercy kissed each other as He took our judgment: His death ransomed us from all our sins — Love and Mercy expressed for the world to witness for eternity. To the world His Gospel of Love triumphs, not with violence, fear or intimidation, but with peace and joy in His righteousness offered to each who accepts Him.
I invite you to show some Gratitude, take a few moments to contemplate the cost of our Salvation, offer Praise, knowing Eternal Life is ours in Christ. I invite you to remember Him together as we take a moment of quiet Thankfulness today at 3:00 PM, the time of His death. Love is rarely honoured.
“Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, ‘Certainly this man was innocent!’ And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts” (Luke 23:47-48 ESV)
“But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith]” (1 Corinthians 1:10 AMP)
The apostle Paul was advising the Corinthian church to uphold unity and brotherly love, reproving them for their divisions. The Church of Christ has seen many differences among various groups.
Paul focuses on the Headship of Jesus Christ He writes to them in a very engaging way: encouraging them on their common understanding, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; if you have any regard to that worthy name by which you are called, be unanimous, speak all the same thing. Avoid divisions that alienate love for one another as far as you can.
The origin of these contentions is pride. (see Proverbs 13:10) The Corinthians quarrelled about their favourite ministers. Paul and Apollos were both called and faithful ministers of Jesus Christ helping the early church develop their faith. Hyping up ministerial leadership, various church doctrines or the founding fathers/pioneers among churches only lead to confusion, fanaticism, and fractured parties.
The worldwide witness of the Lord by his disciples is ruined when we set ministers at the head of differing factions: some claimed Paul, others puffed up Apollos, some cried Cephas (or Peter) possibly because he was the apostle to the Jews (and began fearless preaching to the early church in Jerusalem at Pentecost), and some were for none of them, but Christ only.
“…each one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” or “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” or “I am [a disciple] of Cephas (Peter),” or “I am [a disciple] of Christ.” Has Christ been divided [into different parts]? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? [Certainly not!]” (1 Corinthians 1:12 AMP)
Christians are to represent the Lord In the mind led by the Spirit there is a union of the affections of love, joy, and peace; though not always an interpretive unity of doctrinal sentiment. By agreeing in our unmerited salvation purchased on the cross of Calvary by our Lord, we have total agreement in our solidarity on this one thing which should extinguish all divisions among minor ones distinct to our held Christian beliefs. At the cross, all are perfectly united in our way of thinking.
The best things in the world can be corrupted The gospel and its Lord and those born of His Spirit, are in perfect harmony with themselves and one another. The secret Paul advises in chapter two is to focus on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, not on the antithetical divisions of the carnal mindsets of the world. We see enough of this in politics today. Everyone has a differing viewpoint — leave that to the world, outside of the church of our Lord and our witness of Him together. When we see it in the universal church, it is sad evidence of the corruption and depravity of human nature.
Paul made it clear pride will blow away and carry Christians uselessly in opposition to one another, so far as to set Christ and his apostles at variance in the minds of one another, destroying unified peace and the Christian graces that can be evident in joyful witness. Avoid being made a viral engine of variance, discord, and contention! Focus on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and proclaim His grace instead.
On the 7th-day Sabbath when Jesus entered into the synagogue, he acted on the opportunity he had there, of doing some good toward the people whom he came to redeem. It was providential that He would practice what He preached confirming legal truth with a miracle of grace: “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:12)
The patient’s hand was withered, disabling him from doing craftsmen’s work to earn a living. Today at a civic level we understand the value of assisting a man with charity when truly in need.
Those present were unkind, downright merciless to the disabled man, likewise to Christ the Great Physician. The design: if Christ cured him now on the sabbath day, they would accuse him as a Sabbath breaker. This is about as unreasonable as to oppose a medic, physician or surgeon while helping some accident victim – or anybody in physical misery, where you can offer them healing in the body.
By a word, Christ asked the man to stand forth (v. 3). How much of an effect did this have on the audience I wonder? Perhaps now the spectators seeing the state of the man, will be moved with compassion avoiding shamefacedness while calling his cure a crime. Appealing to their own consciences, one might allow God’s Spirit to move. All witnessing could reckon with the truth of the matter.
The law of Christ speaks itself, resounding the New Covenant by echoing the divine principles given through Moses, by the Rock that followed Him. The lawmaker spoke. Jesus asked a question that would penetrate to the motive of their selfish disapproval to the core, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.” (Mark 3:4) The contrast is clear in the question implying: “is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, as I design to do, or to do evil, as you design to do? What is better, to save a life or to kill a man?”
Our main takeaway is that we need to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our heart via our conscience to see and acknowledge the designs of mercy that the Father puts in place for His spiritually or physically disabled children who turn to trust Him and acknowledge the Son of God’s ongoing work on earth. And He has common grace for all men including the many refugees in crisis today.
