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Having the Pharisees always around might have been much like having the Paparazzi, following, judging, watching, and recording all that you do. It must have simply been exhausting!
On this day Jesus went into a synagogue on the Sabbath and noticed a man with a hand that was unable to properly function, described as “withered” in the NKJV of the Bible jump over to Mark 3:1-4 for the full context.
4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Mark 3: 4-5 NKJV
Jesus is aware of the inner thoughts of the Pharisees, and he was grieved by the hardness and arrogance of their hearts. God knows our inner thoughts and just as Jesus was brought to anger and grieved by the thoughts of the Pharisees, we too can grieve our Lord with hardened hearts. It has been an incredibly dry Spring where I live, and the ground is so hard it is almost impossible to work without hours of saturation. Just as the dry scorched earth in my pasture fails to yield grass, a hardened heart does not yield a bounty for God. The heart of the Pharisees was like scorched earth after a drought. The soil was unable to even absorb the critical moisture needed for life. The Pharisees stood at the source, Jesus! Although Jesus poured out the water of life at their feet, their hardened hearts refused to absorb the nourishment. They refused to allow Jesus to soften their hearts but a heart is never beyond repair.
It is easy to become hardened in this world, but we must place effort on softening the rough and weary pieces of our hearts. Of having our thoughts and actions in alignment and when we fall short, calling out to Jesus.
Father forgive me! Many times, my inner thoughts have not served you. I have struggled with judgment, frustration, and disdain. Soften my heart Lord, recondition the pieces of me that have been tarnished by the world. Search me Lord, mend me Father! May my thoughts and actions bring you praise and glory. -Amen
May the words that flow from me Lord be filled with Your message and when I am obedient may they be backed by the Holy Spirit. When I serve righteously let none of the words, I utter in praise of You fall to the ground. Help me to craft every word, may they pierce hearts and refresh weary souls. This gift is Yours; God I simply aim to use it for your glory.
–Love Cortney