Anglican Daily Fountain 18 January 2023 (Devotional Today)
Welcome to Today’s Daily Fountain Devotional of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Daily Fountain is a daily reading devotional for all Anglicans and Non-Anglicans to read, study, share and discuss the Word of God on a daily basis.
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TODAY’S TOPIC: JESUS:THE LORD OF ALL
TEXT: Matthew 12:1-8(NKJV)
1. At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2. And when the Pharisees saw [it,] they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
3. But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:
4. “how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5. “Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
6. “Yet I say to you that in this place there is [One] greater than the temple.
7. “But if you had known what [this] means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8. “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Anglican Daily Fountain 18th January 2023 STUDY:
Jesus’ disciples plucked heads of grains and ate on the Sabbath day was because they were hungry. When the Pharisees saw this, they complained to Jesus that His disciples were doing what was not lawful on the Sabbath. However, gleaning a handful of grains from a neighbour’s field to satisfy immediate hunger was permitted (Deut. 23:25). Jesus gave them the example of David who ate bread meant only for Priests on the Sabbath day, and also gave to his followers to satisfy their immediate hunger, and was counted guiltless.
The essence of the Sabbath law is to work out God’s glory. That is why Jesus healed the sick and did many miracles even on the Sabbath. If you find yourself in a position of authority in the Church, fellowship or public service, please make laws that are fair and glorify God. Do not make laws to intimidate, or entrap your enemies or opponents. Isaiah 10:1 says that if you make such unrighteous and obnoxious laws, you are under the curse of God.
In all things, remember that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and Lord over all situations. Is He your Lord? If not, make Him your Lord today.
PRAYER: Father, help me to love what you love and do what you would do. Amen.
