October 28, 2019: SOAP #3616:  Job 19; Mark 1-2

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some ears of corn. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Observation:  God, who best knows the nature of man, best understands how evil destroys what He has created.  The laws He gave are for man’s benefit.  They are not meant to limit our enjoyment of life, but to enhance it.  The ten commandments are basic instructions on how to fulfill the two commands that Jesus gave:  Love God AND Love one another.

God did not create the Sabbath and then looked for a way to honor it; He created man on the sixth day then created the Sabbath for rest.  The Sabbath was created for man’s benefit.

Application:  What a blessing to live in a country where the constitution was not designed to protect the government from unruly citizens, but to protect citizens from an unruly government.  People do not exist to serve the government, but the government exists to serve us.  People were granted by the Creator certain rights that cannot be denied or taken away.  Our government and the constitution were created for the people’s benefit.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you designed a special day for rest, obviously, rest is important!  You designed the cycle of night and day to provide for rest.  Holy Spirit, help me honor what was designed for my benefit. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!