²³ One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. ²⁴ But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ²⁶ He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”

²⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Mark 2:23-28

Dear God, I think I have a bad attitude this morning. And why? Why should I have a bad attitude? Is it because I have an event this afternoon, and I am afraid it won’t go well? Yes. I can feel my temper is short. I can feel that I’m irritable. I can feel my patience in thin. I need your fruit this morning. I need your fruit to grow out of me.

I see this in myself and then I recognize myself in the Pharisees in this story. They were just looking for a reason to accuse Jesus and his disciples of wrongdoing. Their tempers were short. They were irritable. Their patience was thin. They needed your fruit. Your fruit would have maybe had them ask the question, “Jesus, help me understand why the Sabbath rule is squishier than we think it is.” For me, I need to understand what exactly needs to be done with today. I need to understand what you want me to say to the crowd tonight. I need to know how to decrease and allow you to increase. I need to be excited about this opportunity to glorify you in front of those who need to see your glory.

Father, help me to not be like the Pharisees in this story. I don’t want to overlook opportunities to recognize you and learn from you. For me, tonight is a chance to recognize you for what you’ve done, glorify you, and then learn from you. You love the people who are coming tonight. You love the people we will be helping. Fill me with you so that I might have the strength to do what you’ve called me to do.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen