Confronting Religious Idolatry: “Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath”
Luke 13:16
SàThis dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”
HàHere Jesus steps out of the religious status quo to accomplish God’s will in the world. In doing this Jesus confronts the religious status quo and shows the selfishness it produces all in the name of serving God. It’s religious idolatry and Jesus confronts it head on.
AàHow often do we find ourselves going through the motions of being religious to only find that it is idolatry? This morning I did a lot of good “religious” stuff. I went to buccaneer life and talked with the kids about Jesus. I had a conversation about what the church needed to buy to help out its ministry. And when someone called me about needing help with their light bill I did the proper religious thing; I had a conversation with them about empowerment instead of enablement and decided I would show them tough love as I heard their tv blasting in the background. Unfortunately, Jesus showed up and completely confronted the Pharisee in me. The person on the phone became broken and my heart became convicted of what I was doing. Jesus showed me that I was turning my back on the people He loves; that I was failing to live into Crossroads’ vision. I then found out where the woman lived and went to her house, met her outside, paid for her light bill, and prayed with her. The conversation ended with her saying she would see me at church on Sunday. Could it be that Jesus was using this time of brokenness to bring His lost child back into His presence and into the family of God? Only through Jesus’ grace did this happen and it was so close to me ignoring her all in the spirit of religious idolatry. I beg Jesus for forgiveness today and thank Him for His grace that led me to be a part of Him healing on the Sabbath and confronting my religious idolatry.
PàJesus, please forgive my religious idolatry today. Thank you for your abundant grace that pursued me this morning. Thanks for not giving up on me today and giving me those chances to respond to you and to be a part of exposing the status quo of religious idolatry. Penetrate my heart to be the kind of person that gives everything I am to you and protect me from the sin to turn ministry into religious idolatry.
EàJesus confronts my religious idolatry and gives me the grace to experience true discipleship.
chadpullins@connect2crossroads.com
