“He left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?” so that they might accuse him” (Matthew 12:9-10).
The legalists will always find a way to wrap their idea of the law around you, strangling another or freeing themselves. It is a spiraling pit. The law is good, but it was made for us; we were not made for the law. The freedom of Christ is a freedom to live life as it is meant to be lived. Obey the law of love and do not ensnare others with your idea of how things ought to be done.
Is it ever unlawful to do good? The sinner thinks in terms of the self. I cannot break the Sabbath, so I will not do that. Jesus teaches us to think of the other. Even if it somehow causes me to break the letter of a law, I will do what is needful for the other. Ultimately, it gets back to the reality of our faith. Either we will continue to live for ourselves, or else we will live as the Lord leads us.
Lord Jesus, the sinner in me is always thinking of myself first. Slay the sinner that I may be resurrected to live the new life You give. Guide me in Your goodness and mercy, and heal me. Then send me out into to the world to bring Your healing word to others no matter the cost to myself. Join me with You, Jesus, so that I may humbly walk wherever You lead. Guide me in Your grace always. Amen.
