Day Eleven: Face the Music Mark 3:1-6
Devotional: Have you ever heard the expression “face the music”? Here’s how that phrase came about.
Many years ago, a man wanted to play in the Imperial Orchestra, but he couldn’t play a note. He was a person of great wealth and influence and demanded to be allowed to join the orchestra so that he could perform in front of the king. The conductor agreed.
He was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he would raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers. He went through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound.
This deception went on for two years. Then one day a new conductor took over the Imperial Orchestra. He told the orchestra that he wanted to personally audition all the players to see how well they could play.
One by one the players performed in his presence. Frantic with worry when it was his turn, the phony flutist pretended to be sick. The doctor who was ordered to examine him, however, declared that he was healthy. The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill.
Ashamed, the man had to confess that he was a fake. That was the day he had to “face the music.”
In today's passage, you have Jewish religious leaders who had to "face the music" with Jesus. He asked a question they could not, or at least, would not answer. To do so would have exposed the motives of their hearts. Motives matter! It's not just about obeying rules and regulations, if so the Pharisees would have been accepted by Jesus.
While they looked spiritual on the outside, the reality was that they had a "hardness of heart" (v. 5) that grieved the heart of Jesus. They tried to use God's law to shame others and elevate themselves. Unfortunately, that can still happen today within the Christian community. Many have left the church because of the feelings of condemnation.
What did Jesus say? The law, in this case the Sabbath, is "to do good" not "to do harm", to "save life" not "to kill" (v. 4). This is not to say that our actions don't matter. God's Word should be obeyed. But our attitude matters not just our actions. The Savior came to save. Our hearts need to turn to Him so that we can live lives of obedience.
Motives matter. Do we need to check our attitude today? Is God's Word used to grow our faith and the faith of others, or are we using it to build ourselves up and tears others down?
Prayer: Take time today to read Psalm 139:23-24 and use it as a prayer to God today. Listen throughout the day for how He may be wanting to answer that question in your life.
Devotional: Have you ever heard the expression “face the music”? Here’s how that phrase came about.
Many years ago, a man wanted to play in the Imperial Orchestra, but he couldn’t play a note. He was a person of great wealth and influence and demanded to be allowed to join the orchestra so that he could perform in front of the king. The conductor agreed.
He was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he would raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers. He went through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound.
This deception went on for two years. Then one day a new conductor took over the Imperial Orchestra. He told the orchestra that he wanted to personally audition all the players to see how well they could play.
One by one the players performed in his presence. Frantic with worry when it was his turn, the phony flutist pretended to be sick. The doctor who was ordered to examine him, however, declared that he was healthy. The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill.
Ashamed, the man had to confess that he was a fake. That was the day he had to “face the music.”
In today's passage, you have Jewish religious leaders who had to "face the music" with Jesus. He asked a question they could not, or at least, would not answer. To do so would have exposed the motives of their hearts. Motives matter! It's not just about obeying rules and regulations, if so the Pharisees would have been accepted by Jesus.
While they looked spiritual on the outside, the reality was that they had a "hardness of heart" (v. 5) that grieved the heart of Jesus. They tried to use God's law to shame others and elevate themselves. Unfortunately, that can still happen today within the Christian community. Many have left the church because of the feelings of condemnation.
What did Jesus say? The law, in this case the Sabbath, is "to do good" not "to do harm", to "save life" not "to kill" (v. 4). This is not to say that our actions don't matter. God's Word should be obeyed. But our attitude matters not just our actions. The Savior came to save. Our hearts need to turn to Him so that we can live lives of obedience.
Motives matter. Do we need to check our attitude today? Is God's Word used to grow our faith and the faith of others, or are we using it to build ourselves up and tears others down?
Prayer: Take time today to read Psalm 139:23-24 and use it as a prayer to God today. Listen throughout the day for how He may be wanting to answer that question in your life.
Posted in Come Follow Me