Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."
PRAYER
Father, surprise me. Stretch my conception of you so that I may know you more fully. Soften my heart and open my mind to further comprehend your character.
John 9:16
OBSERVATION
The Pharisees missed it. They missed the Messiah. They were so caught up in keeping their religion in a nice box with neat categories that they missed connecting with the Son of God. Their expectations for God's move were defined by lists and rules, rather than an organic relationship with the living God. They refused to push past their assumptions about the nature of God. They allowed pride in their religious knowledge hinder their understanding of God. As a result, they missed the most profound expression of God on earth.
APPLICATION
I'm afraid that I have Pharisaical tendencies. Like the Pharisees, I sometimes place God in a box and limit His action to my preconceived notions of who He is and how He moves. We obviously need to have notions and knowledge of who God is, otherwise, anything might become God. However, we can also become so cautious with when, why and how God works that we miss it when He shows up because he doesn't fit in our neat, comfortable box. I want to be surprised by God. I want to allow my worldview to stretch beyond my past experiences and see God in fresh ways. I want to loose my Pharisaical tendencies.
OBSERVATION
The Pharisees missed it. They missed the Messiah. They were so caught up in keeping their religion in a nice box with neat categories that they missed connecting with the Son of God. Their expectations for God's move were defined by lists and rules, rather than an organic relationship with the living God. They refused to push past their assumptions about the nature of God. They allowed pride in their religious knowledge hinder their understanding of God. As a result, they missed the most profound expression of God on earth.
APPLICATION
I'm afraid that I have Pharisaical tendencies. Like the Pharisees, I sometimes place God in a box and limit His action to my preconceived notions of who He is and how He moves. We obviously need to have notions and knowledge of who God is, otherwise, anything might become God. However, we can also become so cautious with when, why and how God works that we miss it when He shows up because he doesn't fit in our neat, comfortable box. I want to be surprised by God. I want to allow my worldview to stretch beyond my past experiences and see God in fresh ways. I want to loose my Pharisaical tendencies.
PRAYER
Father, surprise me. Stretch my conception of you so that I may know you more fully. Soften my heart and open my mind to further comprehend your character.
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