April 11, 2016

“I guess that’s just part of loving people: You have to give things up. Sometimes you even have to give them up.” ~ Lauren Oliver

1 SAMUEL 7-9

God gives Israel a King...but it too bears a consequence...

6But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

LUKE 13:1-21

Jesus heals a woman and the synagogue leaders rebuke him...

10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

JOURNAL

Everything comes at a cost...the saying "you can't have your cake and eat it too" is so true of life and is represented over and over throughout scripture.  The Israelites desire for a King, comes with a cost.  God's desire to heal and save his people comes with a cost.  Willingly accepting the cost and accepting the price of obedience is necessary in following Christ.

This is so contrary to our culture that says you can have it all without sacrifice. 

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27)