[After Jesus' confrontation with the Jewish leaders about healing on the Sabbath, he] looked around at them one by one and then said to the man [with the deformed hand], "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!
—Luke 6:10 NLT
Jesus refused to let his critics determine his course of action. [1] His ministry was determined by the will of God and the mission God had given him to do. Part of that mission was to bless those who needed God's blessing and to liberate those who needed God's freedom. Nothing and no one would stop him from this opportunity to do good for the man with the deformed hand, even if it cost him dearly. [2] How passionate are we to bless those around us? How about those who are not popular? How about those who are not noticed? How about those who might cause us to fall out of favor with the "in group" or the "in crowd"? Let's be like Jesus.
[1] See yesterday's What Jesus Did devotional.
[2] The next verse shows the beginning of the opposition that led to Jesus' crucifixion.
Father, give me more courage so that I will stand up for folks who are forgotten or rejected and so that I will minister to those whom others neglect. Help me not be so conscious of how others view my involvement with people who may not be popular or powerful. Make me more like Jesus in the way I interact with others and serve them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—Luke 6:10 NLT
Key Thought
Jesus refused to let his critics determine his course of action. [1] His ministry was determined by the will of God and the mission God had given him to do. Part of that mission was to bless those who needed God's blessing and to liberate those who needed God's freedom. Nothing and no one would stop him from this opportunity to do good for the man with the deformed hand, even if it cost him dearly. [2] How passionate are we to bless those around us? How about those who are not popular? How about those who are not noticed? How about those who might cause us to fall out of favor with the "in group" or the "in crowd"? Let's be like Jesus.
[1] See yesterday's What Jesus Did devotional.
[2] The next verse shows the beginning of the opposition that led to Jesus' crucifixion.
Today's Prayer
Father, give me more courage so that I will stand up for folks who are forgotten or rejected and so that I will minister to those whom others neglect. Help me not be so conscious of how others view my involvement with people who may not be popular or powerful. Make me more like Jesus in the way I interact with others and serve them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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