Embrace Then Challenge

Matthew 12:¹¹ “He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? (ESV)

What Jesus is saying, in other words, is if you can have and show mercy to a sheep, how much more this man of great value. Jesus did not even say which of you would not rescue your child if your child fell into a pit on a Sabbath. Of course, they will rescue their child. Jesus was saying your sheep is not as valuable as this man, who is a child of God. So, like for like comparison would have been Jesus asking this man is a child of God, which of you will not rescue his own child. Therefore, if you will rescue your child, why would God not rescue His child? But Jesus said even though this is God’s child, I am not going to ask if this was your child. I am going to ask if this were your sheep, would you not have rescued it? You would have rescued the sheep, so why do you have a problem with God rescuing His sheep?

Unfortunately, people become monsters when compassion goes out of the door. Did you notice that none of the Pharisees said to Jesus, “No, we would not have rescued our sheep on a Sabbath”? If they would not have, they would have challenged Jesus immediately. But they were quiet because they knew that they would have done it. Jesus was saying, you can rescue your sheep, but you are querying Me for rescuing my child. Most times, we don’t see as God sees, but when we see as God sees, we embrace compassion. Colossians 3:¹² “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (ESV, emphasis added). Inadvertently, the level of mercy you receive is based on the level of mercy you give. Embrace Compassion.

The second thing that stands out to us from Matthew 12:9-14 (please read) is Challenge Norms. As you journey into restoration, God expects you to challenge norms. Before the man’s hand could be restored, the norm of healing or not healing on Sabbath was challenged by Jesus. Jesus said, since it is right to do good on the Sabbath, then I am in order. Challenging the norm is required in your business, your career, and your professional life. You need to learn to challenge the norms and to break barriers. Do not get me wrong, I am not talking about just being a rebel for nothing. Some people just want to rebel because they want to prove that they are their own person. That is a problem, an ego problem, and that is not what we are talking about. You will never find that in the Word of God. Do not be a rebel without a cause.

Prayer: Father, help me to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience daily and to see and challenge the norms that are limiting me, in Jesus Name. Amen!