Don’t Prioritize Religion Over God

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
Mark 3:1-4 (ESV)

Apprehension fills the air.

Jesus teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and among His hearers is a man with a crippled hand. Mosaic law prohibits work on the Sabbath, and these Pharisees watch with scorn and disapproval to see if Jesus will perform the “work” of healing on the Sabbath day of rest.

God’s house is to be a haven of rejuvenation, and God’s Word is to be a message of regeneration. With a withered hand and a weary heart, this man comes to the house of God for help, hope, and healing. However, that is not why the Pharisees are there. “Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,” (Mark 3:2).

The word translated “watching” in this verse indicates a present and ongoing action; this is how these leaders behave wherever they encounter Jesus. Pharisees prioritize religion over God, looking to criticize instead of comfort. They are not in the house of God to find God but to find fault.

But God created us to look like His Son: Loving and serving others, offering healing and hope in every situation. What good is our religion if we do not put it into practice, sharing the hope and healing found in Christ?

Allow your mindset to be shaped by Jesus today, letting go of any fault-finding tendencies, so that strangers, colleagues, and family can experience the hope and healing of the Gospel through you.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for prioritizing righteousness and loving service over religion. Help me to focus on becoming more like You, loving others out of an overflow of Your generosity to me. And please keep me from getting so caught up in religion that I neglect to serve those around me today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.