Rules Get in the Way of Blessing Others
Rules people want rules to make themselves look good. Instead of giving guilt trips for not being at your service on Sunday, show them how God has them in their context for his purpose.
And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”
Luke 6:9
Rules get in the way of blessing others.
When you get to determine what is work and what is not, you will leave people unhealed.
What Jesus did next is brilliant.
He didn’t touch the man.
He didn’t do any “work.”
He told the man to, “Stretch out his hand.”
No one could accuse Jesus of actually doing the work.
Nor could they accuse the man of doing work.
All he did was stretch out his hand.
But the religious leaders were burning hot with anger towards Jesus.
Do you give a guilt trip to people for working on a Sunday? As if you’re burning hot about people missing service?
What if they’re a nurse, doctor, medical professional? People don’t get sick or hurt just because it’s Sunday.
Perhaps that example is too easy…
Maybe they have a child on a travel team. What do you say to them? Guilt trip?
Let’s ask this…
Why do you give the guilt trip? Because they are hurting themselves?
Or because they’re hurting your Sunday numbers?
Those hyper focused on rules have rules to help themselves and their ego. If they can get everyone to just comply, then it makes them feel and look good.
Yes. Our Heavenly Father wants us to rest.
So lead people to the Blessing, not the rule.
Lead people to see how God is using them for the advancement of his Kingdom inside the context he has them.
Because, after all, don’t you expect God to use you inside your context on Sunday?