DCLM Daily Manna 4 July 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Between Law And Love
TOPIC: Between Law And Love (DCLM Daily Manna 4 July 2022)
TEXT: Luke 13:11-22 (KJV)
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
KEY VERSE: “And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day” (LUKE 13:14).
MESSAGE:
It is amazing how people have allowed the strict observance of the law to make them miss connection with God and people. Blinded by the legalistic demands of the law, many fail to see the true needs of others and reach out to them in love.
The Pharisees and the Jewish leaders allowed themselves to become so blinded by the law that they lost human sympathy. Jesus, in our text, was present in their synagogue on a Sabbath day. In His love for humanity, He reached out to heal a poor woman who suffered affliction for thirty-eight years. The ruler of the synagogue was infuriated by this. He preferred that she remained in her bondage than get healed on a Sabbath day. Jesus, however, saw into his hypocrisy and envy and rebuked him for it.
How many seekers have we turned away from our churches because they failed to conform to our perceived understanding of what constitutes proper Christian dressing? How about those we condemned and failed to help just because they do not conform to our denominational practices? Blinded by religious zeal, we fail to see human needs.
We cannot be more righteous and law abiding than Jesus. Yet, He never failed to help those who truly needed it. Matthew the publican, Zacchaeus and the woman caught in adultery all received mercy and forgiveness from Him. He reached out to everyone. How we need to be like Jesus by reaching out to and connecting with people who are really in need instead of remaining restricted and tied by the dead letters of the law.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Only by love can we fulfil the law.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Genesis 11-13
Prayer Points:
- Lord, I hereby open up my heart to more understanding of the spirit of your word.
- Let the principle of the law of love be written boldly in my heart.
- Lord, give me perfected love for you and for others.
- Lord, let the love of God and man be deepened in the hearts of your children.
HYMN: Let others see Jesus in you
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
