WEDNESDAY July 24, 2019
Blessed are the Flexible
So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.
1 Samuel 21:6
Notice, Ahimelech the priest became flexible to human need and he gave to David the holy bread from the temple. He honored David’s request. Even in the Old Testament we see an occasion where a need was presented and where grace was extended. God honored the priest’s actions.
Understand, human need always supersedes rules and regulations. There are times and situations when a person’s needs are met and other people have to be flexible. On one occasion, on the Sabbath Day, Jesus was with His disciples and they began to eat the grain while walking through a field.
The Pharisees considered this to be work on the Sabbath, and they questioned Jesus:“Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:2). Jesus answered them with the example of David when the priest gave to him the showbread:
“Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests” (Matthew 12:3).
Jesus put things in perspective and said:
“…if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:7-8).
The Pharisees did not understand or know the grace of God. They knew the Law but were not flexible.There are times when we can be like the Pharisees. We cannot be so strict. Be flexible in certain situations and learn to bend.
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.
~Chuck Smith~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!