TEXT: JOHN 5:18 NKJV
18] Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Discussion
Today’s devotional tells the story of the man who had been afflicted with an infirmity for thirty-eight years, whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath day.
Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees criticized Him and sought to kill Him for doing good on the Sabbath. Through this, Jesus was teaching us that tradition cannot stop the truth. The truth remains the truth. Sometimes, tradition can stand in the way of the truth, and when this happens, we must choose the truth over tradition.
Although honoring the Sabbath was God’s commandment, the religious leaders had distorted it by adding traditions that forbade any form of work on the Sabbath. Jesus came to restore the truth, not to uphold human traditions. If we are not careful, people can present tradition as though it were the truth. As believers, we need to ask ourselves what the Bible truly says about any issue, rather than accepting what society presents as tradition simply because it has been passed down for generations.
It is also important to note that every generation changes, and believers need to embrace change as an opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God.
For example, if Jesus were to come in this generation, He would most likely not preach from a boat for people to gather and listen. Boats are no longer a major means of transportation, and even if He chose to use one, it would not be the same kind of fishing boat Peter used. Likewise, Jesus may not use five loaves and two fish to feed the multitude if He were ministering today. He would most likely use methods that people of this generation could relate to while still accomplishing the same divine purpose.
We must be willing to accept change and continually seek better ways of communicating the undiluted and unchanging truth of God’s Word, rather than becoming stuck in outdated traditions.
Believers, the world is constantly changing. Realities, facts, and circumstances continue to evolve, and we must let go of obsolete traditions that hinder the spread of the gospel.
However, as we do this, it is important to emphasize that we should not embrace error or false doctrine in the name of discarding tradition. Rather, we must follow the instruction of Scripture: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV).
God bless you.
Declarations:
I shall be careful not to place tradition above God’s truth. In the name of Jesus, I will focus on what truly matters in the Kingdom of God. Amen.
Light Up Christian Fellowship
