January 31, 2024

Matthew 12:9-14 (HCSB)
The Man with the Paralyzed Hand
9 Moving on from there, He entered their synagogue.  10 There He saw a man who had a paralyzed hand. And in order to accuse Him they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 But He said to them, “What man among you, if he had a sheep  that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and lift it out?  12 A man is worth far more than a sheep,  so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored,  as good as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Pastor HD Jones
Recently my granddaughter Elli broke her arm and had a cast from her hand to her elbow.  Thankfully this is only a temporary situation but I have noticed just how difficult it is to be down one hand.  God gives us two for a reason and we usually have a dominant or preferred hand.  Watching Elli brush her teeth, or zipping her coat, or being limited in her last Upward football game as a cheerleader was a good observation of how this man must have felt.  A disability is that continual reminder of our imperfections.  We were never meant to be blind, deaf, lame or encumbered by our bodies brokenness. We long to be like everyone else and we desire to operate at full capacity.  In just a few weeks, Elli will be back to normal but for many their burdens last a lifetime.  I’m so glad that in heaven one day we will have our perfected bodies.  No more disabilities and no more brokenness.