A Good Gift Becomes a Heavy Burden 10/19

 A Good Gift Becomes a Heavy Burden

Jesus walked with His disciples through grain fields on the Sabbath. His hungry followers picked some heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands and ate the kernels. God’s law allowed this for a hungry traveler. But the Pharisees saw this simple act and called it work. They said it broke the Sabbath.

God gave the Sabbath as a gift. It reminded His people that He made them and freed them. It was a day to stop working and trust God’s provision. But the religious leaders added many rules to God’s command. They turned a day of rest into a list of restrictions. Their additions became a heavy burden God never intended.

We can do the same with good things. We take a practice like family devotions and add our own expectations. We demand perfect behavior and lengthy sessions. What God meant for joy becomes a source of tension and failure. We judge others by our standards instead of God’s grace. Where have you turned a good gift into a heavy rule for yourself or others?

“And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.” (Luke 6:1, KJV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one man-made rule you treat as His command.

Challenge: Identify one area where your personal preference has become a non-negotiable standard for your family.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media