Look out! Legalism is always lurking. Beware of the “gotcha” crowd. As soon as we see a rule, we may keep it, resent it, and seek to enforce it on others. Don’t get me wrong. Rules are helpful. But when they make us angry at others, we have missed the point.
Consider the Sabbath. God instituted it from the start. For six days shall you labor. The seventh is a day of rest. One pastor who took a regular day off was chastised by a friend, “The devil never takes a day off.” Thinking quickly, the pastor said, “I know and if I don’t, I will be just like him.”
The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus. They noticed he snacked as he walked through the fields. “Sabbath-breaker!” they shouted. They watched closely to see if Jesus would heal a man on the Sabbath. Jesus stood him up in front of everybody and asked, “Is the Sabbath a good day to do good?” When they had no answer, Jesus healed the man.
Certainly, keep the moral laws of the Old Testament. But do not get caught up in the dietary and calendar restrictions. The early church released Gentile believers from these in the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:28-29). Above all, avoid the “gotcha” mentality of the Pharisees. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. Every day is a good day to do good. Today, for example! Do good.
