Judging, Cheeseburgers and sick Women

Romans 8:12-17

Brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

These are some lines that I read and think, "Yeah, I'm good. I don't have anything to worry about", but then I am reminded about how hard I have to walk away from a good cheeseburger, and eat one not six. I remember how I have to remind myself that the beautiful women I see are people to be loved and respected, not treated like playthings of the mind even when they wear little clothing. I have to remind myself that big boy toys are fun but I do myself well to not collect so many. Too many people die of hunger each day. Do I really need another guitar?

Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
"Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
"There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."
The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?"
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

I read these verses and think, "Wow pharisees must have been really mean." I mean, how could you think that you shouldn't treat a woman on the sabbath when they are in such pain? But, I can't tell you how many times I have heard people in complete shock because this or that person came to church wearing "X" and how that is so inappropriate. Or how "so and so" came to church and that was such hippocracy because everyone knows that they sin worse than the devil Monday through Saturday. I won't lie, I've found myself thinking similar things. 

Jesus, 

Thank you for loving me. I don't deserve it. I am sinner of the worst kind. I mean, I'm better than I used to be but I still mess up far too much. I really should know better. Help me to love like you do. Help me to heal the broken-hearted and the lost in this world. Not for me or for them, but for you, because you love them the same as you love me and you want to see them happy and at home in heaven. I love you Jesus. I love you.

In Jesus Christ's name I pray,

Amen