August 23

Today’s Reading - Luke 6:6-11

(See also Mark 3:1-6)

Thought:

From the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus’ mission was to change the way people viewed God and religion. Having a relationship with God was not supposed to be about a mindless, arbitrary, and inflexible adherence to a set of laws and traditions. It was to be about the devotion of one’s heart to God and the infusion of godly characteristics and principles into one’s life. Jesus’ healing of a withered hand on the Sabbath was not really about challenging the keeping of the Sabbath day. It was about challenging the way that people viewed God and their fellow man. What Jesus tried to instill in the people of His day is still true for us today. Being God’s children and disciples of Christ is still about being wholly devoted to God in heart and committed to godly principles and conduct in life. A life lived in Christ and for God is a life full of love and faithfulness, and it is the best life of all!

How do you think this text relates to our lives today?