The Life and Death Difference between Logical and Right Thinking

S - Mark 2:23-28 (NRSV): "One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions." Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."

O - Why is the actual Lord of the Sabbath so unconcerned about a violation (cf. Numbers 15:32-36)? I can hear the rationalization process in the religious mind (we all have one) as to why David's violation was different than the disciples. David's situation was an "emergency" and the disciples is just a convenience. David was being unjustly pursued by Saul and the disciples are just taking a walk (and I sure hope they weren't going very far:)). David might not make it without food and the disciples are not in danger of fainting on the way. So David's actions can make sense to a religious mind but not the egregious disregard demonstrated by these rough-cut disciples. Is, in the technical sense, the action of the disciples a violation of the law or of the interpretation of it? Is it a violation of not working or not preparing food or not harvesting on the Sabbath? Overstating God's case and disobeying him nevertheless is a problem the human race has suffered from since the very beginning (cf. Genesis 3:3). The Lord's point is profoundly simple: He is Lord of the Sabbath and he decides what's in and what's out. The religious mind is always focused on what not to do and Jesus is focused on what must be done. At the end of the day, the Sabbath was made for humankind and humankind was made for Jesus. This is the meaning of life and the only right interpretation of all God's written voice (the Bible). The Scriptures testify of Jesus but we must come to Jesus for life.

A - Because there is no true emergency to Jesus (since nothing is too hard, too wonderful or too difficult for him - NOTHING), the rationalization of my religious mind (thought process) will constantly not help me. This is another example of how I can be thinking logically but not rightly (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25). Right thinking is not illogical, it is just formulated from a broader and more powerful base of information and presence. Right thinking has to make room for God's written voice AND his speaking voice. Right thinking is always personally and specifically related to Jesus; any thought or Scripture verse which is even unintentionally disconnected from him has already missed the point. Right thinking always starts at mercy and leads with love. Right thinking always makes room for grace and pursues life and relationship over lists and religious expressions. The religious minds of Jesus' day did not see the problem with not resting the land every seventh year while living out a rigorous and unscriptural interpretation of Sabbath. As Jesus said, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"(cf. Matthew 15:1-9). Jesus calls me/us to himself - period! He will not be tied down to a principle or formula, though his word and promises are true. I will need consistent recalibration to keep my mind and heart thinking and responding rightly, not just logically.

P - Lord of the Sabbath and Lord of all,
I admit my almost limitless capacity of missing the point while I think I've got it. Only you can lift the impairment of my vision and the muddle of my mind to see what you see and think with you the thoughts which are life giving, life keeping, life saving. Please enable me to live this out day by day. I need you and want you to shepherd all of me - thoughts, attitudes and conclusions included. Quick to love rather than quick to judge. Making a way to go forward rather than anchoring others in the past. Not over-stating God's case nor my own while refusing to make my convictions a measure for any other. Lord, this is the way of life you give and lead in. I want to be teachable unto change, to learn your ways, to make you glad by defaulting to trust and by working to love rather than to be right. This will take a miracle - for my religious mind is always with me. Please, open my mind to understand the Scriptures which testify of you and to refuse that way which seems right to me but ends in death. You are so awesome, O Lord of the Sabbath and because of your great mercy you are also Lord of me. I do love you back. I do ask for open doors and open heavens. Show me the way you who are the way. I pray in your name, Lord Jesus,
Steve