Jesus Heals A Man With A Shriveled Hand (On The Sabbath)

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. -Mark 3:1-6

It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong (Voltaire). We live in a messed up world where kindness and mercy are capitol offenses. We live in a world that has fallen from God's plan for it, a world which rages against love with every fiber of its being. Christ came to transform this corruption. He loved the unlovable and he showed mercy, even on the Sabbath. At the end of all that he sent his own Spirit to live in his followers. So although our world is corrupt, everyday, in places all over the world the light of Christ's love shines and dispels more of the darkness that once held this globe so completely. This light is in you too if you have been forgiven much. Nothing good lives in the sinful natures of man; if there is to be light, hope, and goodness in our world then we must let our lights shine. Dare to do good even on the sabbath.

Challenge: Show mercy to someone who doesn't deserve it, love someone who won't love you back, or attempt an act of unacceptable generosity. Let your light shine. The Lord is with you to empower your actions and forgive your failures.