Matthew 12:9-14
9 And going on from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, a man was there with one withered hand. And they said to Him, Is it lawful or allowable to cure people on the Sabbath days?—that they might accuse Him.
11 But He said to them, What man is there among you, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a pit or ditch on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much better and of more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and allowable to do good on the Sabbath days.
13 Then He said to the man, Reach out your hand. And the man reached it out and it was restored, as sound as the other one.
14 But the Pharisees went out and held a consultation against Him, how they might do away with Him.
The last time I wrote a post was July. The sermon this past Sunday inspired me to take the time. Imagine my surprise when the next Bible reading just happened to be the very stories which Sunday's sermon included.
I don't believe in coincidences!
Many years ago, I had a dream set in a church.
I was standing in the front when I noticed a black man with a withered right hand sitting in the front pew. This man was not black as a matter of of race, he was black because he had been burned, charred. As I prayed for the man, his hand was healed.
I understood that the man represented those people who had been "burned" by the religious structures (Pharisees) within the church. These people were so hurt that part of who they were (gifting, talent, personality, etc.) had withered.
The Lord is speaking! If you have been hurt, there is healing! Jesus has placed great value on you, because He loves you! He doesn't want any part of who you are to be withered.
You and I were made to shine! We were made to go into the world spreading His love to all we contact.
We were made to demonstrate compassion!
