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I saw the stark contrast between spiritual darkness and spiritual light this morning.

It’s so sad to think that some people can be so filled with envy and fear that they’ll embrace evil thinking and intent bent on destroying innocence.

Yet, it makes me so glad to know that people can choose a better way that embraces godly thinking and an intent to pour innocent love into the lives of others.

First, the dark moment.

Then He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.” (Matthew 12:13-14)

Jesus had compassion on a man with a crippled hand and healed him. But because the healing occurred on the sabbath — most likely during a worship service — the Pharisees went ballistic.

If Jesus kept doing this miracle stuff on the Sabbath in direct contradiction to the Pharisaic teaching, then everybody will start doing stuff on the Sabbath, the religious big shots surmised. And the Pharisees’ leverage of fear would weaken significantly.

This Jesus guy had to go, the Pharisees decided, because He was messing up the agenda of control and power upon which the Pharisees counted. It’s a pathetic picture of spiritual darkness.

Contrast that with the abundance of spiritual light found in Psalm 15, also part of today’s reading in the One-Year Bible.

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?

“Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

“Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

“Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

“Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.

“Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.

“Such people will stand firm forever.”

Let’s be people of the light, wanting to do what’s right.

And whenever we’re tempted to resent Jesus because we’re convicted of thinking or doing wrong, let’s recall who gets to spend forever in the land of the living.

As always, I love you
Martin

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