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Don't Miss the Forrest for the Trees
Tim Savage9Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,10so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”John 5
For 38 years this man had been lying by the pool of Bethesda.He had never been able to get in to the healing waters of the pool.How tragic!So close, for so long, but so far. But, it’s never too late to be healed by the Savior.No matter what we’ve done or what our on-going issue is, Jesus can forgive our sins and heal us.This should have caused a great celebration.People should’ve been in shock and awe because of this incredible miracle.People should’ve hailed Jesus as God and knelt down to honor, worship and praise Him.The reaction by the religious leaders, however, was condemnation of the man who was healed and the man who did the healing.How is it even possible that someone could be so petty and egocentric that they could miss the the forest for the trees?All the leaders saw was a broken law, they totally missed the love, compassion and supernatural power of the act.They looked past the overflowing joy the man must’ve had and pointed the crooked finger of judgment at him.
May we never allow the hypocritical yeast of these religious leaders to affect our love, empathy and care of those that we serve.It seems outrageous to us that they could have missed the target by so far, but at the time, in the context of their culture and in the chaos of the situation they made bad decisions.It sounds much like what we face today.Our politics are divided, issues further splinter our unity, morals are compromised at a quickening pace and social media throws gas on the fire.In light of all of the chaos, I can almost understand the wicked mistake of the ancient leaders.We must never forget what is most important to our Heavenly Father.We cannot focus on the trivial and lose sight of what’s important.Luke 10:27 says, “He answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"I must not miss the forest for the trees.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for this lesson today.May I represent You well to those around me today.I want to live in such a way that will draw them closer to You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
