Friday Focus #41

All Fall Short

We have heard "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But do we know what it means and where that verse applies and in what context it was written? First, it comes from Romans 3:23 which was written by the Apostle Paul. Secondly, the words right before the "for all fall" part are "For there is no distinction:" This was in reference to the disputes Jews were having about being "better" than gentiles and Greeks. Their thinking was that they were better because they were Jewish followers of Jesus, similar to how the Pharisees spoke to people and treated people. God is not making distinctions of this group of people or nationality is better than this one. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior, welcome to the family. Period.

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Wednesday Wake Up #35

Jesus Eats with Sinners

In my many travels (read this article) I came across an image with some text that seemed to be saying that Jesus would endorse/support sin because he ate with sinners. I may have gotten the message a bit mixed up (I doubt it though), but I do think and know that there are people who believe that because Jesus ate with sinners, that it must mean that he accepted their sinful ways as okay to live in and would encourage these sins to continue. I beg to differ and scripture would disagree with that too (that is what is most important). Jesus does not endorse sin. Many look at Jesus and forget why he came to earth and what his purpose was while he was here. I hope I can remind people today that Jesus would not encourage or endorse sinful behavior.

In Mark 2:13-17, Jesus had called Levi to follow him. Levi was a tax collector and they were known to take more taxes and save some for themselves. While eating with Levi and other tax collectors, the Pharisees got upset with Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus told them that it is not the well, but the sick that needed doctors just as the sinners (the sick) are the ones who needed Jesus. Why would a sinner need Jesus? So that they can follow him. If you love Jesus and what he stood for then understand he was not just a good person, but a servant of God doing the Lord's will while loving the unloving and the sinners.

And remember that Jesus did not want you to sin. Remember the adulteress woman who the Pharisees brought to him to have her stoned according to the law (John 8:1-11)? After he made some markings in the sand, Jesus told the Pharisees whomever had not sinned could cast the first stone. The Pharisees one by one dropped their stones and walked away and could no longer condemn her. When there was no one left to condemn her, Jesus said he didn't condemn her either and that she should "go and sin no more." Jesus wants us to be united with God in Heaven and if we are accepting of God's grace and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior then we get who Jesus is. For those that think that Jesus just accepted everyone and was okay with everything, they still have some reading to do.
 

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Wednesday Wake Up #32

The Accusers

There will be people in your life, when you are doing God's will, that will tell you that you are doing the wrong thing. They will tell you what they think and hold you accountable to their views that you do not subscribe to. Many of us will take these situations and get angry and want to defend ourselves. You don't have to do that. Doing so turns the focus from you doing God's will to protecting your image. If you are doing God's will then their attacks are irrelevant. 

Take Jesus for example. Have you read the story about the man with the withered hand in Luke 6:6-11? Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on a Sabbath and the Pharisees were waiting to see if he would heal the man in the synagogue that had a withered hand. They wanted to accuse him of not doing what was right according to the law as it is written, not in the spirit of the law. The Spirit is what leads you do what is right in God's name. The "rule" or "law" says one thing and the Spirit of the law is do things with love for God and then for others. The accusers will try to tell you to follow the law (don't work on the Sabbath) and ignore the Spirit of the law (do things that honor God at all times).

We read in Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." That means it serves you well in God's eyes to do what is right in God's eyes as you withstand the accusers that tell you that you are not doing. When they tell you that you are wrong for something, look to God's will to validate what you do as the words of men will try to cut you down. 

 
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Wakeup Wednesday #27

Before the Eyes of Men

When we give whether it is to our church or we help a friend or someone we don't know, our heart must be in the right place. It cannot be on trying to impress others. It cannot be to say "Hey look at me!" Through our selfless service we can show honor to God by helping others.

In Matthew the words of Jesus resonate loudly and are quite clear. In Matthew 6:1 Jesus tells to beware of practicing righteousness (doing good works) in order for others to see you. If you do good works for others to see you, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. Essentially, when you do good things on earth for people to see God will not acknowledge it.

Furthermore, we are to sound no trumpet (call no attention) in regard to our good works. The hypocrites would do that in the synagogues (Matthew 6:2). The hypocrites were the Pharisees who did good works before the eyes of men, not God. In verses 3-4 Jesus sums things up by saying if you do your giving in secret, your Father in Heaven will reward you. That is where our focus should be: on pleasing God. If we seek to please others we will fall short because there is nothing you can do that will please everyone all the time. Seek to honor God all the time and honor God only.

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Romans 4: Works vs. Faith

Works vs. Faith

There was a belief that works provided salvation more so than faith. But as Paul has explained in Romans 4, by Abraham's example, his actions (such as circumcision) came from his faith in God. People (Pharisees and religious leaders) had things twisted. Paul explains to them that it was not Abraham's circumcision that made him faithful to God, but his faith in God is what led to him to be circumcised.

The same goes with us. It is not our works that will save us and give us salvation. We are blessed to have Jesus save us from the death of our sins so that we could be redeemed to God (Romans 4:7-8), before him people had to have faith in God as is. God had not sent Jesus yet so Abraham could not follow Jesus as the disciples could or as you and I can. But that still did not keep Abraham from having faith in God who came to later in human form as Jesus.

You can go to church every day of the week. You can feed every homeless person. You can care for every orphan and widow and  visit the sick, but without faith in God those works do not symbolize anything about the Kingdom of Heaven. As we will read later in James 2:26, faith without works is dead as the body is dead apart from the spirit.

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Acts 28: The Deity, The Healing, The Opposition

The Deity, The Healing, The Opposition

Upon being brought aboard land safely, they found that the island was called Malta. The native people there were very kind to Paul and his group. There was a moment when Paul had been bitten by a snake and did not become ill or have anything bad happen to him. The native people initially thought Paul was evil because he had been bitten, but since nothing bad happened after the snake bite, they considered him a God (Acts 28:1-6). And then we see Paul heal the chief man on the island and get honored for his actions (Acts 28:7-10). It's kind of interesting how in one moment people can perceive you one way and then praise you the next.
 

Upon arriving in Rome, Paul began to defend himself again pleading his case of innocence. But this time instead of being opposed, they met him with chances for open discussion. They said that there have been no letters from Judea and no one traveling with Paul had anything negative to say about him. They set up a day for Paul to speak and share the gospel and that he did (Acts 28:17-23). Some were convinced by what he said while others opposed (verse 24), but he was allowed to do so without any pressure from the Pharisees (verse 31). 

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Acts 26: Paul's Defense with Truth from His Story

Paul's Defense with Truth from His Story

King Agrippa let's Paul defend himself (again) and Paul tells his story. Before Paul starts telling his story, there is one thing he does twice that many of us would not do in this situation. He humbles himself. In verse 2, he says he considers himself fortunate to be in front of King Agrippa. And in verse 3, Paul once again expresses his humility by saying "I beg you to listen to me patiently." Paul would have every human right to be ticked off and yell and scream, but not once have we seen him during this ordeal lose his temper even after he was punched in Acts 23:1-5.

In verses 4-11, Paul retells his story of being a Pharisee and persecuting Christians and tried to make them blaspheme all to oppose the name of Jesus. Once again, Paul does something that many of us would not do. Paul "tells on himself." It wasn't that people didn't know what he had already done to oppose the name of Jesus, but he was humble (there is that word again) in seeking favor in the eyes of the court. Basically he is saying I did these horrible things as a Pharisee, but what you are accusing me of things that I did not do as a Christian (Christ follower).

In verses 12-23, Paul tells of his conversion. He says how the voice of God asked why Saul (Paul's former name) was persecuting him. He continues by further explaining that he was arrested and plotted against to be killed because he was telling people to repent and turn to God. His final words in his defense to Agrippa speak of unity in regards to the word being spread to Jews and Gentiles. Those words also acknowledge the Holy Spirit's involvement when Paul needed help. 

In verse 24, Festus tells Paul that his great learning is driving him out of his mind. The funny thing is, Festus did not really say anything with what he said. It is almost like he is a shock jock just saying something to incite the crowd. Paul almost converts Agrippa to become a Christian. He asks Agrippa is he believes the prophets. He asks this because if he were to ask Agrippa about Jesus, he might get defensive with his answer where when asked about the prophets he is more likely to welcome conversation. Paul says that aside from his chains he would want for all to be like him, having freedom in Christ. When they were done speaking, Agrippa and those sitting with him stated that he had done nothing wrong and could have been set free had he not appealed to Caesar (Acts 26:27-32).

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Acts 23: Paul is Spared

Paul is Spared

In Acts 23:1-5, we see Paul get punched while being held down. The command to punch him came from the High Priest Ananias. Paul's response was an insult to whoever commanded the punch, but according to Exodus 22:28, Paul was wrong to insult a ruler of people. 

Then in Acts 23:6-11, Paul knows that the Sadducees and the Pharisees were divided on their stance of Paul's innocence and guilt, he lets the crowds know that he is a Pharisee. Because he believed in the resurrection of Christ (the dead being a risen is believed possible by Pharisees and not Sadducees), then he aligns himself with the Pharisees saying that he is one of them. The disagreements became violent and in order to keep Paul from being harmed he was moved. The next night he was told by God “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome (Acts 23:11).”

There was a plot to kill Paul and the Jews made an oath to not eat or drink until Paul was dead. Paul's nephew (his sister's son) found out about this and told Paul who had his nephew taken by the centurion to tell the tribune of what was waiting for him. Paul was then sent to Felix the Governor. A letter was accompanied with  Paul and those he was sent with explaining Paul's situation including his possible innocence (Acts 23:28-30). After the arrival, Felix decided not to charge Paul with anything until the accusers arrived and he could hear them out.

I learned from Paul's trials that when you are led by the Holy Spirit, keep going. I see Paul as an example of courage in the Spirit of God to keep pressing on even when it seems hopeless. I see God's hand guiding Paul the whole way. Have you ever taken the time to look back at life and see where God's hand was guiding you in accordance with the Bible?

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Acts 18: Paul's Journey with the Holy Spirit

Paul's Journey with the Holy Spirit

We have seen all that Paul has gone through from being imprisoned and chased from one town to another avoiding death. As we see here in Acts 18:4 he was still preaching the word. I love that even though he would have every human reason to give up, he didn't. He feared for his life. It was not a made up "people are after me" though as people were truly after him Paul has been a man of perseverance and persistence in the Holy Spirit. he wasn't always there, but once he started following Christ you saw a big change in his behaviors and his life. 

In verses 5-6, he was testifying that Jesus was the messiah but when the Jews opposed and reviled him, he did not sit there and keep arguing and get madder and madder. He did what he was supposed to do. He let them know that they are responsible for themselves now and he left and went to the Gentiles. God told Paul in verses 9-10 (in a vision) to go on speaking and to not be afraid because God was with him. Paul did just that for a year and 6 months. 

In Acts 18:18-23, we see that Paul worked hard at strengthening the disciples that he came in contact with and still preaching the word of Jesus from land to land as he traveled whether it be Ephesus, Caesarea, Antioch, Galatia and Phrygia. Paul had left Ephesus and left 2 that he traveled with there in Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila. While they stayed behind, they met Apollos who also preached the word accurately. Priscilla and Aquila (husband and wife), took Apollos aside and taught him how to preach the word more accurately. And with that he continued to spread the word that Jesus was the Christ, even in public against the Jews (Pharisees).

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Acts 17: Paul Preaches and Uncovers Idols

Paul Preaches and Uncovers Idols

Paul and Silas made it to Thessalonica and Paul preached the word on three Sabbath days (as was his custom) that Jesus was the Christ and had to suffer and rise from the dead. More people began to follow Jesus and the Jews who did not like what was happening became jealous. The gathered wicked men and formed a mob to find Paul and Silas. Instead they found Jason (his house served as the church) and brought him before city officials. Jason and those that were with him had to leave a security deposit to keep the riots from happening again (Acts 17:1-9).

Paul and Silas were saved and were sent to Berea and went to another Jewish Synagogue. These Jewish people received the word and were more noble and eager to receive the word. But once the Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul and Silas were there, they went there too looking for them. Paul and Silas were made to escape which sent Paul to Athens and Silas and Timothy to meet up with him later (Acts 17:10-15).

While Paul was in Athens, he saw that the city was full of idols. Some didn't want to hear what he had to say and other saw him to be a preacher of foreign divinities (they did not know of Jesus). Paul goes on to tell them that their "unknown God" (as was an inscription on some idols) did not live in temples made by man (Acts 17:17-31). 

As "cool" as it is to have a nice gold crucifix or a bracelet or set of beads, we must remember that God does not live in these items. If you need a reminder of what Christ did for you, then personally I understand. But personally, you have to make sure that what you have is not for looks or fashion or to be in awe of others. Just because you have the biggest crucifix necklace or the shiniest crucifix necklace, it doesn't mean that you are a believer. Your necklace and Christ inspired jewelry is not what truly represents your faith in Christ. It is what you do with that faith in Christ.Will you serve? Will you love others? Will you submit to the will of God? That is a true mark of your faith, not what you wear or what idol you have made.
 
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Acts 4:34-35- Give What You Have

Give What You Have

Early in the chapter, we see in verses 1-4, that the Pharisees and Sadducees (once again) were against the resurrection of Christ being taught. They had Peter and John arrested for spreading the gospel, the truth. But, before they were arrested (and let out the next morning), about 5000 people came to believe in Christ. That right there is amazing and says to me, can you do what needs to be done for the Kingdom selflessly even if it meant that you would be arrested and had to sit in a jail for a night?

Later in the verse we see more selflessness. In verses 32-37 we see that everyone was of one heart and one soul. No one claimed anything that had been theirs to still be their own. People were willfully sharing with others. Nobody was needy. People were taking care of one another. People sold homes and land and lay it before the apostles (Peter and John). This unity and selflessness was needed from people so that they could show their dedication to Christ and not let "things" get in the way of their faith and following Christ's example. Pure selflessness. Let this display serve as an example of how we can give up possessions in order to serve others. Are you willing to even buy a homeless person food? Or give them a drink of water?

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John 11:4- The Glory of God

The Glory of God

The more we read scripture the more we understand how Jesus was focused and how we should focus.

When Lazarus died, people thought that Jesus who had healed a blind man could have saved Lazarus from dying (John 11:37). Once again we see "naysayers" looking at things from the outside rather than with real righteousness (God's will). The focus is to glorify God through what we do, not appease people's opinions and thoughts on what we should do.

In John 11:4, Jesus said “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” That means this is not "it" for Lazarus. This isn't the end and God will be glorified through it. People came to Jesus in order for him to save Lazarus. He waited two more days before he left to see Lazarus. Why did he wait two days?? Look at it this way, the Pharisees were going to critique him and question everything Jesus does any way. If Jesus was to hurry and heal Lazarus, then the Pharisees could say that Lazarus wasn't really dying and probably would have attributed it to some medical anomaly. When Lazarus died Jesus was able to glorify the Kingdom through the Son of Man (himself) being able to resurrection and showcase the the power in him as he is God in the flesh.

I know it is hard to relate the works of Jesus and various parables to our life and see how we can see the sin in our lives and what in our lives is not focused on obedience to God.  I look at it like this, there are hard times and really, really tough times that we can go through in life and it just seems like there is no end to it and the world is crashing down around you. You cry out to God to save you and nothing happens. You pray day and night and nothing changes, or things get worse. Now you start to think "does God even exist or is He ignoring me?" Look at it this way, what am I doing in my life that is leading to death? Maybe not physical death, but maybe it is. Maybe it is emotional death? Maybe spiritual death? Jesus needs to be allowed to work in your life. That means you will need to see what it is he wants from you. You can believe all you want, but when you believe the actions follow. God wants you to follow Him and submit to Him. If you do not there will be more "death" in your life. It is time to submit to God's will for all parts of your life.

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John 10:34-38- Responding Like Jesus

Responding Like Jesus

Remember that saying and those elastic bracelets "What Would Jesus Do?" Do we ever really stop to think about it? I mean think about how we think and how act and react. Are we in line with how Christ would respond.

Now, in reading through the gospels, you know that the Pharisees hated Jesus and wanted to stone him for claiming that he was blaspheming and saying he was God when they didn't think he was. In John 10:31-33, the Pharisees said they were not mad at the works he did, but only at their accusations of his blaspheming. After the Pharisees picked up stones to stone him his response (instead of anger and threats and violence) was that of truth and a refocus. The Pharisees were schooled so to speak on who Jesus was and what he did. In verses 34-38, we see Jesus reaffirm him being in God and God working through him. He didn't back down and just give in. He didn't give a sarcastic answer, he said what was true. He also gave more evidence which serves as some what of a redirection. He tells them to look at the works he has done and also references scripture (Psalm 82:6) when he said "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods.'" He reminds them that the works he is doing are of God and speak to who he is, even if they didn't want to believe him.

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John 7- Judging Others

Judging Others

We have often heard that we should not judge and people will quote Matthew 7:1-3. They understand the quote from Christ but think that is the end on the subject of judgement. Jesus says "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." This is from the sermon on the mount and then goes in to the practice of unrighteous judgement where we see specks of dust in one person's eye and overlook the plank sticking out of our own eye. Jesus was not saying never judge.

In John 7 we see the subject of judgment come up again. Jesus is confronting those who think he has a demon in him and thought he was paranoid about him knowing that the rulers wanted to kill him for healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus gives them an example of their false judgment. He said that people would ensure that the law of Moses was fulfilled by circumcising people even on the Sabbath, but they look at Jesus's miracle of healing a man on the Sabbath as sinful. They put their man interpretation of laws over what's God's will is. Jesus told them in verse 24 that they judge by appearances and not by righteous judgment. In other words, is what you are judging in accordance with what God's will is?

Lastly, there was division among the Pharisees, chief priests and officers. The Pharisees and chief priests wanted the officers to capture Jesus but the officers did not. There were discussions/arguments about whether a prophet could ever come from Galilee. Nicodemus (from John 3:1-15) tried to warn the religious leaders about judging Jesus wrongly. He said in verse 51, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" In other words, if our human law gives people a chance to explain themselves, then why is it that they weren't applying the same thinking to Jesus.

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Luke 20:9-19- Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Parable of the Wicked Tenants

When Jesus tells a parable it is for the purpose of teaching some kind of lesson. With the Pharisees there seems to be lessons aimed specifically at them that in regular language they would ignore.

In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Luke 20:9-19), Jesus compares God to a man who planted a vineyard. The vineyard was leased while the vineyard owner went to another country for while. The vineyard owner sent servants to get some fruit. He sent three different servants and each was beaten or wounded and sent away empty handed. This was the way to explain how God has sent prophets to deliver a message that not only was rejected, but the messengers Jeremiah, John the Baptist, as well as others were stoned, harmed or killed (Got Questions- Parable of the Tenants). 

Finally, the vineyard owner (God) sends His son (Jesus), who the tenants saw as a threat. They though of the son was being sent then the owner must be dead and the son, if killed, would no longer be heir to the vineyard and the tenants could keep the vineyard.

The tenants in the parable are to be the religious leaders and various people who rejected every messenger of God. Jesus references Psalm 118:22 when he said, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" when he closes out the teaching of the parable. Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. Without Jesus's life, miracles, death and resurrection, and his fulfilling of the prophecies, following Christ would be flawed.

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Luke 16:15- Approval of People

Approval of People

There are things we do that are so common place to us that actually have nothing to do with what we think unless it is tied to how people will perceive it.  There are people who volunteer from time to time because of the photo opportunity. There is a cosmetic surgery industry that flourishes from insecurities and perceptions of others. Don't get me started on the fashion industry and red carpet events. That thrives on public perception and who is wearing what from which designer.

Living for the approval of people is no way to live. Every generation will cherish something else. The 1950s had a different view of males and females than how this generation views what defines a male and female. How people choose to see us isn't important. How God sees us is what is important. People see the outside, God sees our heart.

Jesus had just finished telling a parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-13). The Pharisees never liked Jesus's teaching, ideas and parables and ridiculed him. Instead of getting angry and getting into an argument (as many of us would do) for being ridiculed Jesus replied with a simple statement that has deep meaning. Jesus said, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." He was telling them that they do things and say things to have the approval of people but they overwrite and ignore what God will think about it.

What God has to say about what we do and what we say matters not more than other things or less than other things, but is the only thing that matters. Have you ever had a time where you did something nice for someone and they thought or someone else thought that you had ulterior motives? It has happened to me. You try to do the right thing but people look at it with the wrong lens. Or there are times I thought I was doing the right thing and really it had an ulterior motive. Man sees the outside, God sees the inside (1 Samuel 16:7). Let pleasing God be your focus.

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Luke 7:50- Saved by Faith

Saved by Faith

We know the story of the sinful woman who humbled herself and wash Jesus's feet with her tears and anointed his head with oil (read Luke 7:36-50). But, did you see the parable and the lesson Jesus taught to Simon while also correcting the thinking of the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were on their self-righteous pedestal again and were condemning Jesus for letting a sinful woman touch him. She was showing her humility by serving Jesus and the Pharisees took an action and applied their own meaning to it. In them doing this, Jesus began telling Simon (a different one than the disciples) a parable of a moneylender and two debtors. One debtor owed more than the other, but both had their debts forgiven by the moneylender. The debtor who owed more (10 times more) was far more thankful for being free of his debt. 

Jesus explains the parable by turning away from the woman and exposes Simon the Pharisee's disbelief that Jesus could forgive sins and that he was actually a prophet. Simon thought (in verse 39) that if Jesus were truly a prophet he would see how sinful the woman was that was touching his feet. Simon did none of the things that the woman did and they were in Simon's house. He saw her humility and said "he who is forgiven little, loves little." I understand that to mean when you are in debt a great deal (imagine $500,000) and that debt is forgiven, then you are more likely to be appreciative of the forgiveness of that debt than if it was just $5.

With our sins we must see that Christ can forgive us. He has the power and the ability. But, we must have the faith like this woman who knew she had done wrong and wanted to be forgiven. Jesus tells her in verse 50 that her faith has saved her and for her to "go in peace." When we have been forgiven, there is a whole lot more peace in life. Go seek Christ for forgiveness.

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Luke 6:1-5- Lord of the Sabbath

Lord of the Sabbath

Many times I have heard that Christianity is about rules, regulations and religious rituals that have no meaning and make no sense. In many instances, Jesus thought similarly about being Jewish in his day.

In Luke 6:1-5, we have another example of the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus into saying something that was wrong. Jesus often paid no attention to rules that were set forth by man's foolishness in order to supplant God's will. 

One of the Ten Commandments is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11). Pharisees took that to an exponential level and literally would not even do what was right ion God's eyes because they thought they were doing the right thing. But often, Pharisees were not as concerned with God's will as they were their appearance to others and displaying their self-righteousness. They were trying to call out Jesus for rubbing in his hands the seeds he had picked to eat. Really? Seriously?! That is what you criticize??

The Pharisees made a list of what you could and could not do on the Sabbath. But, the will of God cannot be contained in do's and dont's. Yes, we have the Ten Commandments, but those are not the only commands God or Jesus gave through the entire Bible. Following God's will is bigger than a list.

Jesus said that he was "Lord of the Sabbath." This was one of his claims to being God in the flesh. As Jesus lived, we got to see his miracles and his heart through his actions. The great part about him saying that he was "Lord of the Sabbath" was that on another Sabbath, he healed a man with a withered hand (Luke 6:6-11). Would God really have you wait until the next day if you could serve Him or people on the Sabbath?

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Mark 7:21-23- From Within

The old way of thinking was that if a person did not wash their hands before eating, then what ever they touched and then ate would defile their soul. Jesus said that this is not true. It was not about how you washed your hand or what you ate that would defile you, it was about what was in your heart, mind and soul and what came out of your mouth.

Your soul cannot be ruined by the food you eat. That belief was not from God, that belief came from man (see Mark 7:2-5). Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were holding on man's laws more than God's. We do need to obey laws that are on earth, but ultimately God's law is more important. God's law gets overtaken for the beliefs that elders put in place.

Jesus made it very clear that the evil thoughts we have come from within. The sexual immorality we have comes from within. The theft, murder and adultery we commit comes from within. All things wicked that man expresses outwardly, starts inwardly. Remember that God's will and ways are far more important than man's.

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Mark 3:4 and 3:35- God's Will Above All

God's Will Above All

Here we are on the Sabbath and the Pharisees are trying to hold the law over Jesus and show him what he is doing is wrong according to the law. Jesus, as always, was far more focused on not what the law was, but what would be pleasing to God. A man with a withered hand had come into the synagogue on the Sabbath. The Pharisees looked at Jesus to see if he would break the Sabbath by doing "work." Jesus asked them if it was lawful to good or harm, save a life or kill on the Sabbath. No one had an answer and Jesus took the man's hand and healed him.

It was not about how man saw it, but how God will see it.

Later, in Mark 31-35, Jesus explains to us, that our relation to one another is not based in genes and DNA, but in relation to the will of God. Jesus was told that his mother and brothers were outside. He looked around at the people in front of him and referred to them as his mother, sisters and brothers as long as they were doing the will of God. One could speculate he said that because he knew that there were followers that did not think he was in his right mind (verse 20-21). People thought that Jesus was possessed by a demon. 

Jesus was so focused on doing the will of God, that it made no matter what people said about him or to him. the will of God was primary. And doing that will of God is what keeps us in relation to Jesus.

 
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