He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus. Luke 6:10-11.
God put it on the hearts of my husband and I to start a small group at church for people in our then-thirties age group. My husband felt led to teach James. The pastor and his wife opposed us teaching James because James teaches that doing good works is important to spread God’s love. They wanted us to study Scripture teaching Salvation through Jesus because God chose us. Although that is a wonderful message, we were all Believers needing to grow into mature Christians.
These parents of young families were crippled spiritually because we had no Bible Study, and the Lord of the Sabbath asked my husband and I to “Stretch out our Hands” to them by providing fellowship and Bible Study. We received so much opposition from the Pastor, we almost gave up. But with prayer God opened the door.
This situation helped me understand Jesus’ frustration with the Pharisees. God wanted Him to heal on the Sabbath, but the leaders of the synagogue had their own agenda. God gave Jesus power to heal the crippled man, but Jesus paid a price. When God asks us to stretch out our hands to someone with a crippled heart or body part, we should look around to be aware of the consequences, but obey when God opens the door.
Father God, work through me, giving me your power to heal someone with a crippled heart. Show me what to do, and I will obey. Open the door for me and remove the obstacles in my path. Amen.
We should people in need. It doesn’t matter what kind of need they have, spiritual, emotional or physical. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is. God would want us to help whenever we can, including the sabbath. I didn’t realize you met with so much opposition from the pastor. I can’t understand that. You would think that a pastor would be more open minded. Good for you for pursuing what you thought was write.
Thanks. God always knows what is best. We had an encounter with a pastor who wasn’t very humble. There was a movement in the Methodist church back then to preach works don’t get us into heaven, only God’s grace and belief in Jesus. That is true, but if that’s all your church preaches, you won’t grow as a Christian.