meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus An oath

Genesis 14:22 –23 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand in an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, 'I made Abram rich.'

So, in an effort not to be beholden, or tainted in his victory, Abram did not keep any of the war booty for himself … only what his army had already eaten.

Abram (Abraham) did not want the King of Sodom to say that he made him rich, he wanted to be able to say that God made him prosperous. It was a way of paying homage to Yahweh and not being tied back to pagans in any way.

When we look at how we received our own prosperity it might be wise to use a similar approach. Would we like to be known for having earned our way or having acquired it through the lottery or in some other questionable fashion? We must ask ourselves these questions as we see opportunities that have moral “strings attached.”

Which is easier?

Matthew 9:3-7 At this, some of the scribes said among themselves, "He's blaspheming!" “But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?

For which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?

But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" then He told the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home."

And he got up and went home.

At the time Jesus was in physical ministry an act of healing, and His claims, were probably commonplace; there were other sorcerers and magicians who roamed the lands performing various “miracles” who undoubtedly made similar claims of divinity. As such, it was not the common folk who were offended, but the Jewish elite.

Therefore, Jesus qualifies His actions by asking whether it is easier to physically heal or forgive sins ... knowing that the man was paralyzed both spirituallyand physically. Jesus’first concern is always the condition of one’s spirit; the frailties of the flesh will be corrected in glory.