Watching for an Accusation 10/27
Watching for an Accusation
The scribes and Pharisees fixed their eyes on Jesus. They watched for a miracle not with hope, but with hostility. They wanted to use the man’s healing as evidence against Jesus. Their critical spirit turned a suffering man into a piece of courtroom evidence. They held a clipboard of rules when they should have held out a hand of help.
A heart set on accusation will always find a reason to condemn. It can observe an act of pure mercy and still search for a violation. This attitude values being right more than helping others. It cares more about winning an argument than restoring a person.
Have you ever felt a hint of satisfaction when someone’s failure proved your warning correct? It is easy to discuss a person’s struggle as proof we were right. We can become more interested in validating our opinion than offering restoration. When you hear about another’s difficulty, what is your first response: to find proof or to pray?
“But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.” (Luke 6:8)
Prayer: Confess any desire to be right over being righteous. Ask for a heart that seeks to restore, not to accuse.
Challenge: If you are tempted to say “I told you so” about someone today, stop and pray for them instead
To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media
The scribes and Pharisees fixed their eyes on Jesus. They watched for a miracle not with hope, but with hostility. They wanted to use the man’s healing as evidence against Jesus. Their critical spirit turned a suffering man into a piece of courtroom evidence. They held a clipboard of rules when they should have held out a hand of help.
A heart set on accusation will always find a reason to condemn. It can observe an act of pure mercy and still search for a violation. This attitude values being right more than helping others. It cares more about winning an argument than restoring a person.
Have you ever felt a hint of satisfaction when someone’s failure proved your warning correct? It is easy to discuss a person’s struggle as proof we were right. We can become more interested in validating our opinion than offering restoration. When you hear about another’s difficulty, what is your first response: to find proof or to pray?
“But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.” (Luke 6:8)
Prayer: Confess any desire to be right over being righteous. Ask for a heart that seeks to restore, not to accuse.
Challenge: If you are tempted to say “I told you so” about someone today, stop and pray for them instead
To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media
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March
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