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

 A Withered Hand in the Synagogue

Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. A man with a withered right hand was also there. The religious leaders watched Jesus closely. They were not hoping for a miracle. They were looking for a reason to accuse Him. Their rules said healing was work, and work was forbidden. They saw the man’s condition as a theological problem, not a personal tragedy.

Jesus saw the man. He knew the man’s suffering was more important than their regulations. He understood the daily struggle of a life limited by this infirmity. That hand could not button a shirt or hold a cup. The man was not a subject for debate. He was a person in need of mercy.

You likely encounter people with hidden struggles every day. They may sit near you, their pain masked by a quiet demeanor. You can choose to look past their exterior and see the person Jesus sees. Their need for compassion is greater than your need for comfort. What person in your life have you been summarizing instead of seeing?

“And, behold, there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.” (Luke 6:6-7)

Prayer: Ask God to give you His eyes to see the people around you, not just their problems or their potential to inconvenience you.

Challenge: Identify one person you often overlook. Before the day ends, speak a kind, specific word of encouragement to them.

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

Beyond the House Rules

The Pharisees were enforcing their house rules on everyone else. They treated their preferences as God’s requirements. Jesus confronted this error directly. He showed that God’s Word provides freedom, not bondage to human tradition. Our man-made rules cannot save us, and they often hinder others from finding grace.

Salvation does not come from keeping anyone’s house rules. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. He lived the perfect life we could not live. He died for our sins and rose again. We contribute nothing to our rescue except the sin that made it necessary. Trusting in our own goodness is like keeping score in a game God isn’t playing.

You might be tempted to trust your own scorecard. You list your church attendance, your good deeds, or your better-than-some morality. But that scorecard cannot erase a single sin. Only the blood of Jesus can do that. Will you stop presenting your own righteousness and fully trust in what Jesus has done for you?

“When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.” (Deuteronomy 23:25, KJV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus that your salvation rests entirely on His work, not your rule-keeping.

Challenge: Tell one person today that Jesus saves us by grace, not by our own good works

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

Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus did not end the debate with a story. He ended it with a declaration of His identity. He said, “The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” He claimed absolute authority over the very day the Pharisees were trying to protect. He is the one who gives the rules their meaning and purpose.

Jesus is the Lord of all. He has authority over every tradition, every rule, and every day. The Pharisees thought they were defending God’s law, but they were actually correcting the Lawgiver Himself. Their system had no room for the Author of the system. We must never let our interpretations become more important than obedience to Christ.

Your life has many areas: your schedule, your money, your relationships. You may be tempted to tell Jesus, “You can be Lord over this part, but not that one.” But He will not accept a divided throne. His lordship is total. He is Lord even when His commands challenge your comfort or contradict your traditions. What area of your life are you struggling to surrender to Christ’s authority?

“And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” (Luke 6:5, KJV)
Prayer: Confess to Jesus one area where you have resisted His lordship.

Challenge: Say out loud, “Jesus, You are Lord of [name a specific area of your life] today.”

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

Have You Not Read?

Jesus answered the Pharisees with a question. “Have ye not read what David did?” He pointed them to a story in 1 Samuel they knew well. When David was hungry, he ate the sacred bread that was lawful only for priests. Jesus used their own Scriptures to show their understanding was incomplete.

Knowing Bible stories is not the same as understanding God’s heart. The Pharisees could quote rules but missed the mercy in God’s Word. They knew the letter of the law but ignored its spirit. We can make the same mistake. We accumulate biblical knowledge without letting it transform our character and compassion.

You may know your Bible well. You might have verses memorized and doctrines defined. But knowledge alone can make you proud. True understanding leads to humility and grace. It aligns your heart with God’s priorities of love and truth. Are you building your life on the full counsel of God’s Word, or just the parts that support your preferences?

“And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;” (Luke 6:3, KJV)

Prayer: Ask God to help you see His heart of mercy in the Scriptures you know best.

Challenge: Read 1 Samuel 21:1-6 and write down one way God showed compassion in that account.

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

The Loudest Accusation Isn't Always Right

The Pharisees saw the disciples eating and immediately accused them. “Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?” They spoke with confidence and religious authority. People listening would have assumed these learned men were correct. But their accusation was based on their own rules, not God’s Word.

A loud voice or a position of respect does not make a claim true. The Pharisees were sincere, but they were sincerely wrong. They had learned their rules from trusted teachers. They repeated them until their words sounded like God’s words. We must always test what we hear against Scripture itself, no matter who says it.

You live in a world full of loud voices. They claim authority on how you should live, love, and believe. Social media, podcasts, and even some preachers can build entire systems on personal opinion. Your responsibility is to be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures to see if what they say is true. What popular belief have you accepted without checking it against the Bible?

“And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?” (Luke 6:2, KJV)

Prayer: Pray for discernment to recognize man-made rules disguised as biblical commands.

Challenge: Read Acts 17:11 and write down one thing you need to examine more closely in God’s Word.

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

 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

From Spectator to Witness

Levi the tax collector heard Jesus say, "Follow me." He left his tax booth immediately. He did not just become a spectator. He prepared a feast and invited his friends to meet Jesus. His life was radically reoriented around his new Lord. His obedience was immediate and complete. He became a witness, not just a fan.

Jesus calls us to the same kind of whole-life response. He is not interested in patching up our old life. He wants to give us a new one. This new life requires new wineskins- new patterns, new priorities, and a new purpose. We are called to be active participants in His mission, not just consumers of religious services.

You have heard what Jesus says. The call to follow Him is a call to surrender everything. It is a call to let Him change your routines, your relationships, and your reasons for living. Will you continue to be a spectator, or will you become a witness? What is one step you can take today to move from observing to obeying?

“And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.” (Luke 5:27-28)

Prayer: Pray for God to make you a witness who invites others to meet Jesus, just like Levi.
Challenge: Call or text one person this week to share what God has been teaching you.

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

The Leaking Hose and the Tape

A young man stood over a broken car engine. A cracked hose was leaking coolant. A mechanic pointed to the problem and said, "You need to replace that hose." But the young man did not want to pay the price. He wanted a cheaper, easier fix. He wrapped the hose with electrical tape. It worked until pressure built up and the tape failed.

We often approach Jesus like that young man. We want His help, but we want Him to work with our solution. We ask Him to fix what is embarrassing and get us out of a mess. But when His Word challenges the way we think or the things we excuse, we resist. We want His help while still insisting on our own way.

You might be praying for God to help you overcome a temptation. But you keep the phone number, the bottle, or the website. You know where you fall and what you reach for. When God's Word calls you to cut off access or ask for accountability, you object. Are you asking God to pull you out while you keep one hand wrapped around what is dragging you under?

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we
 confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Prayer: Ask God for the courage to stop wrapping your sin in excuses and to truly confess it.

Challenge: Delete one contact, throw away one item, or install one filter that represents a step of obedience today

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

The Man Who Prefers the Old

Jesus observed that a person who drinks old wine does not immediately want new wine. He says, ‘The old is good.’ This man has a settled preference. His taste is accustomed to the old. He resists the new simply because it is unfamiliar. His comfort with the old blinds him to the superior quality of the new.

This preference explains why people resist Jesus. They find security in what they know. They like their own measure of goodness. They trust in their church background or their moral record. This feels safe and familiar. The truth of the gospel disturbs that comfort. It requires admitting that their familiar way is not sufficient.

You may find comfort in saying, "I'm a good person." That statement may comfort your conscience, but it cannot cleanse it. Only Jesus can deal with the sin you have been trying to explain away. What comfortable excuse have you been using to avoid surrendering fully to Christ?

“No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” (Luke 5:39)

Prayer: Thank Jesus that He alone can cleanse your conscience and save you completely.

Challenge: Identify one excuse you use for a sin pattern ("I was raised that way," "That's just how I am") and reject it aloud.


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

 New Wine in Old Wineskins

Jesus gave another picture. He said no one puts new wine into old wineskins. New wine ferments and creates pressure. Old wineskins have already been stretched. They become brittle. The pressure will cause them to burst. The wine will spill out, and the skins will be ruined. New wine must be put into fresh, flexible wineskins.

The old wineskins represent rigid religious systems and personal routines. Jesus brings something new and powerful that cannot be contained by our old ways. We can become so attached to our methods that we stop asking if they help us obey God. We prefer the comfort of the familiar over the challenge of obedience.

Your life may be like an old wineskin. Your schedule is full, but it has no room for prayer. Your habits are comfortable, but they leave no space for God's Word. You want to grow closer to the Lord, but you will not change your routine to make it happen. What familiar arrangement is God asking you to change so you can receive what He wants to give?

“And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.” (Luke 5:37-38)

Prayer: Confess to God your attachment to comfort and ask for a heart willing to be stretched.

Challenge: Set aside 15 minutes today to turn off all distractions and read your Bible



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

The New Patch on Old Jeans

Jesus told a story about a new garment and an old one. He said no one tears a piece from a new garment to patch an old one. Doing so ruins the new garment. The new patch will not match the old fabric. The religious leaders wanted Jesus to fit their old system. They expected Him to endorse their rules and correct their enemies.

Jesus did not come to be a patch for our old lives. He did not come to simply fix a few embarrassing problems. He offers complete transformation, not a quick repair. We often want His help while we keep control. We ask Him to fix what is falling apart without letting Him touch what we are holding onto.

You might be trying to attach a little religion to your life. You hope it will hold everything together. But you refuse to let Jesus address what needs to change. You are willing to give Him Sunday morning but have marked certain areas "NO TRESPASSING." Where are you asking Jesus to be a patch instead of your Lord?

“And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.” (Luke 5:36)

Prayer: Ask God to show you the one area you are trying to patch instead of surrendering.

Challenge: Write down one habit or attitude you know God wants to change, but you have been resisting.


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

Unpacking Your Bag

A little boy sat in a courtroom. His adoption was about to be finalized. He had learned not to get too comfortable and always kept a small bag packed. After the judge signed the papers, the boy whispered a question, “Does this mean I can unpack my bag?” His new father looked him in the eyes and said, “Son, you’re coming home with us. You belong to our family.”

Some of us live with a packed bag in our hearts. We know what we have done. We know how we have failed. We think if people really knew us, they wouldn’t want us. We carry that fear into our relationship with God, trying to clean ourselves up to earn His acceptance.
Jesus said, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” You can come to Him with empty hands. You can trust the Savior who invites you to belong. Will you finally unpack the bag of guilt and receive your place in His family?

“…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

Prayer: Ask God to make the reality of your adoption in Christ feel more real than your feelings of failure.

Challenge: Place a small bag or backpack in a closet as a physical reminder that you are home and you belong.

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

The Cost of the Celebration

Jesus knew a time was coming when the Bridegroom would be taken away. He told His disciples they would fast in those days. He could see beyond Levi’s house. He knew Judas would betray Him and Peter would deny Him. He knew His hands would be pierced and His body laid in a tomb. He sat at the feast knowing He was going to the cross.

The joy at that table was free to the sinners, but their salvation would cost Him His life. His death would bring a time of mourning for His disciples. Jesus knew what it would cost to save Levi, and He still came. He knew the depth of our guilt, and He willingly went to the cross.

We sometimes talk about grace being free. It is freely given to us. But we must never forget what it cost Him. Look at the cross and see the price He paid. What does His willing sacrifice reveal to you about the value He places on your soul?

“But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” (Luke 5:35)

Prayer: Confess to God any tendency to take His grace for granted, and thank Him for the immense cost of your salvation.

Challenge: Read the account of the crucifixion in Luke 23:26-49 and write down one observation about what Jesus endured.


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

The Bridegroom in the Room

Jesus answered His critics with a question. He asked them if the wedding guests could fast while the bridegroom was with them. The answer was obvious. Of course not. A wedding is a time for joy, not mourning. Jesus identified Himself as the Bridegroom. His presence made that meal a celebration. His disciples had a reason to rejoice because He was there.

The critics saw the meal, the men, and everything that didn’t fit their expectations. They failed to recognize what the presence of Jesus meant. His presence meant forgiveness was available. His presence meant hope had arrived. His presence was the cause for their joy.

We can sometimes lose our amazement at this truth. We say “Jesus saves sinners” with little feeling. But slow down. Think about those words. Jesus…the Son of God; Saves… rescues completely; Sinners…people like you and me. Does the reality of Christ’s presence with you stir your heart to joy?

“And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?” (Luke 5:34)

Prayer: Pray for a fresh sense of Christ’s presence with you today, making your ordinary moments a cause for gratitude.

Challenge: Tell one person today why you are thankful for Jesus, using a specific example from your life.

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

 Jesus in Levi’s House

Levi invited his friends to a meal. These were tax collectors and sinners, men everybody else looked down on. They expected the usual crowd and the same old stories. Then someone said, “Jesus is here.” They were shocked. They were accustomed to religious people talking about them, not sitting with them. They waited for Jesus to ask, “Who let this guy in here?” But that question never came.

Instead, Jesus sat with them. He shared a meal with them. He knew every sin Levi had committed, and He still called him to follow. The religious critics saw only the scandal of the meal. They failed to see the grace of the Messiah. Jesus was there to seek and to save the lost.

You may feel unworthy to sit at Christ’s table. You may wonder if He knows who you are and what you have done. Hear His invitation to come. He calls sinners, not the self-righteous. He welcomes those who know they need Him. Will you trust that His invitation includes you?

“And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.” (Luke 5:29)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for His willingness to sit with sinners and for His specific grace toward you.

Challenge: Write down one past failure you still hold against yourself and then physically tear up the paper as a reminder of Christ’s forgiveness.

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

 The Man at the Wedding Feast

The religious leaders watched the meal at Levi’s house. They saw the plates passing and heard the conversations. They noted that Jesus’ disciples were eating and drinking. This did not fit their expectations of spiritual behavior. They confronted Jesus about it. They had a religious measuring stick, and the disciples were not measuring up. They were inspecting the plates but missing the Savior.

These men were like a guest who walks into a wedding and demands everyone act like they are at a funeral. They could see the food but missed the meaning of the moment. They knew what was wrong in the world but failed to recognize what was happening right in front of them. The presence of Jesus Himself was the reason for the feast.

Many of us can become attached to what we expect church to look like. We know our seat and our songs. We notice if a chair is moved three inches. But we can overlook the person God brought here for help. We can inspect what makes us uncomfortable and miss the work God is doing. Are you more focused on the routine of religion than on the presence of the Savior?

“And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?” (Luke 5:33)

Prayer: Ask God to open your eyes to see His work around you today, especially in unexpected people and places.

Challenge: Intentionally greet and learn the name of one person at church this week you do not already know.

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

The Chief of Sinners

The Pharisee named Saul met the risen Christ and became the apostle Paul. After years of preaching and planting churches, he never got over the mercy that saved him. He did not write that he had found people worse than himself. He wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

The longer we walk with Jesus, the less reason we have to strut into the room like we hired the Physician. We are here because He had mercy on us. This is true for the person whose phone holds things they pray nobody ever sees and for the church member who looks down on them. Everyone needs the same Jesus.

Levi’s story shows that Jesus receives sinners. He knows what you have done and what was done to you. His call is not to make peace with your sin, but to repent and follow Him. Will you trust the One who is calling you today?

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for His mercy that saved you, and confess any pride that makes you forget you are a sinner.

Challenge: Tell one person your story of how Jesus found you, emphasizing His mercy, not your merit.

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

The Doctor and the Sick

The religious leaders stood outside Levi’s house and complained. They asked the disciples, “Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?” They were disgusted. In their minds, a real rabbi would keep his distance from such people. They saw a room full of people who could do nothing for Jesus.

Jesus saw a room full of people He had come to save. He did not sit with them to excuse their sin. He agreed they were sinners. He sat with them because sinners matter. He explained His mission with a simple analogy: those who are healthy do not need a doctor, but those who are sick do. He came for the sick.

The church must never soften the truth to make people comfortable in their sin. But we must never make someone feel they have to clean up their story before they can come hear about Christ. Do you see people as problems to be avoided or as patients who need the Physician?

“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)

Prayer: Pray that our church would be a place where the sick know they can find the Doctor.

Challenge: Underline the words “sinners” and “repentance” in your Bible and thank Jesus for both.

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

From One Table to Another

Levi left his tax table and immediately set a dinner table. At the first table, people came because they had to. At the second, Levi invited them because he wanted them to meet Jesus. He opened his house and provided a great feast for a great company of publicans and others.

Levi did not have a perfect testimony polished and laminated. He had only been a Christian for minutes or hours. He simply brought the people he knew into the house with the Savior he had just met. He went from being a greedy man to a generous one because the Holy Spirit was at work in his heart.

You do not need a microphone to bring somebody within earshot of Jesus. You need a willingness to open your home and your life. Who is in your circle that would take a call from you but not from a preacher? Who is waiting for someone to care enough to invite them?

“And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.” (Luke 5:29)

Prayer: Ask God to bring to mind one person you can invite to your table this week.

Challenge: Call or text one person today and invite them to share a meal with you.

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

Two Words That Change Everything

Jesus stood before Levi’s booth and spoke two words: “Follow me.” This was not a suggestion to add religion to a crowded schedule. It was a command to leave his old direction and come follow a new Leader. There was no sales pitch and no promise of an easy life. It was a call to surrender.

Levi left all, rose up, and followed him. He abandoned the income, the position, and the life he knew. He did not negotiate with Jesus. You cannot follow Jesus while insisting He walk wherever your old life is headed. Some want Jesus to bless everything already on their table but leave the arrangement alone. Jesus calls for a new direction.

This is repentance. You were going one way, and now you go His way. It is not about earning salvation by cleaning up; it is about trusting the One who calls you. What thing are you still holding onto, afraid that Jesus cannot handle it if you let it go?
“And he left all, rose up, and followed him.” (Luke 5:28)

Prayer: Confess the one thing you are afraid to leave behind and ask Jesus for the faith to follow.

Challenge: Write down the name of one habit, relationship, or attitude you need to leave behind to follow Jesus.

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

At the Receipt of Custom

Levi sat at his tax booth. Coins clinked on the table. People passed by, clutching their purses and looking at him with disgust. He was a traitor working for Rome, a man nobody trusted or wanted. Then Jesus came. He did not cross the road to avoid Levi. He walked straight up to the booth. While everybody else saw a crooked tax collector, Jesus saw a man He came to save.

Jesus knows exactly where you are. He can find you on a jobsite, behind a desk, alone in your truck, or sitting at a kitchen table after everyone else has gone to bed. He can find you in the place where you have spent years thinking no one would stay if they knew your story. Jesus already knows your story, and He has not walked past you.

He sees you not for what you have done, but for what His grace can do. He does not wait for you to get your reputation straightened out. The Savior comes walking while the sinner is sitting still. Where in your life do you feel unseen, and will you believe that Jesus sees you there?

“And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.” (Luke 5:27)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to help you see yourself through His eyes of grace, not through your own shame.

Challenge: Identify one place you feel unworthy and say aloud, “Jesus sees me here.”

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

 Carrying Your Old Mat

The man who was paralyzed immediately rose up. He did not slowly sit up or ask for a walker. He stood, rolled up his mat, and lifted it onto his shoulder. He walked out through the crowd glorifying God. The evidence of his old helplessness became the testimony of Christ’s power.

Jesus does not merely improve us. He makes us new. The thing that once carried you no longer has to control you. Your past does not have to be your shame. It can be evidence that God’s grace reached you there. The man did not glorify the roof or the friends. He glorified God.

You do not have to celebrate the chains to praise the One who broke them. Your story of helplessness is a platform for His power. What old mat are you still lying on that Jesus has commanded you to carry?

“And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.” (Luke 5:25)

Prayer: Ask God for the courage to share how He has carried you when you were helpless.

Challenge: Call someone and tell them how Jesus helped you through a specific struggle.

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

The Son of Man’s Authority

The scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy in their hearts. They reasoned that only God can forgive sins. Jesus perceived their thoughts and answered them. He asked which was easier: to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Rise and walk.’ Then He called Himself the Son of Man, a title from Daniel claiming everlasting authority.

Jesus connected the invisible miracle of forgiveness to a visible miracle of healing. He did the visible so they would know He had authority to do the invisible. He spoke three commands: “Arise,” “Take up thy couch,” and “Go.” Strength rushed into lifeless legs immediately.

When Jesus speaks with divine authority, paralysis must surrender. Sickness cannot argue. Sin cannot hold the person He sets free. His voice still commands the same power today. What has He commanded you to do that you feel too paralyzed to obey?

“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.” (Luke 5:24)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to help you obey His command to you as immediately as the paralyzed man did.

Challenge: Underline one command in Scripture you have been avoiding and take one step to obey it today.

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

Forgiveness Before Walking

The paralyzed man lay helpless before Jesus. Everyone saw his useless legs. Jesus saw his guilty soul. Jesus did not first say, “Rise and walk.” He said, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” Jesus addressed the deepest need before the obvious one. The man could have walked for years and still died lost.

Jesus offers forgiveness as a free gift, not a reward. The man on the mat could offer nothing. He came helpless and received grace. This forgiveness cost Jesus everything on the cross. His blood paid the debt we could never pay.

We often focus on fixing temporary problems. We want people to have a better week. But people need more than behavior modification. They need forgiveness. They need Jesus. When you help someone, do you also tell them about the One who forgives sins?

“And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” (Luke 5:20)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for paying the price for your forgiveness when you could offer nothing.

Challenge: Tell one person today what Jesus has done for you, not just what He can do for them.

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