Devo Luke 13

Chapter 13
10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11and a woman
was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over
and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward
and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13Then he put his
hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14Indignant
because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people,
“There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the
Sabbath.” 15The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on
the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept
bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound
her?” 17When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were
delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Meditation:
1. The synagogue ruler was indignant because Jesus broke the rule of Sabbath.
Yet he could not see through the law and understand that it is out of
compassion that Jesus healed the woman. This shows how little understood
grace was and how little desired. The woman who experienced grace praised
God. But the synagogue ruler rebuked Jesus for helping her. Jesus pointed
out their hypocrisy that they would easily release an animal in order to care
for them, but wouldn’t rejoice for a person released from Satan’s bondage.
2. In their fervour to keep all of their rules and regulations, the Pharisees ended
up neglecting to love others. I can also take the rules literally in order to
rationalize my lack of concern for others (ie. insisting on tithing but refusing
to help the needy; insisting on attending worship on time but refusing to pick
up someone out of the way).
3. Do I make excuses for neglecting to do good? Pay close attention to God’s
whispering in my heart.

Personal Note:
Excuses I make for neglecting to do good can be lack of time, lack of money, lack of faith in God.  Also, the motivation of doing good is important.  Am I doing good so that I would look good in front of others?  Am I doing good so that I can earn favors?  My main reason for neglecting to do good rest in a lack of love for God.  A person who sincerely loves God will sincerely love others.