...no more skating away...

“Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched Jesus to see whether He would cure the man on the sabbath, so that they might accuse Jesus of working on the Sabbath. 3 And Jesus said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come forward.’ 4 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. 5 He looked around at them with anger; He was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against Jesus, how to destroy Him” Mark 3:1-6.

The growing conflict between Jesus and the Scribes of the Pharisees has been building, in this story, these Scribes are looking for a reason to provoke them, and Jesus does not disappoint. Now they can accuse Jesus!

But I am really struck by the tiny sentence in the middle of this story: “But they were silent” (Verse 4).

On a spiritual level I find that God hates my silence when I put off sitting in His presence or saying nothing to Him about my sin. I sometimes just skate away. I can only imagine Jesus’ anger towards me.

Oh God, why do I walk by in silence?

What do I just skate away?

When I leave You, where can I go?

What am I thinking?

You have the words of everlasting grace!

Only You have mercy and salvation for me.

Forgive me!

Have mercy on me.

Bring me back to You.

Help me never again to be like the nine Lepers

who didn’t turn back to thank You!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy win me a sinner!

From the Bible:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6.

“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16.