READ
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. (John 18:28, RSV2CE)
They would have contracted a legal impurity by entering the house of a pagan.
REFLECT
The Pharisees did not want to violate an external law but the internal law was okay to violate? Even Murder?!
Some preachers preach against sin especially external sin but do not deal with the internal root of that sin. They preach God’s hatred of sinners and anger at them. They tell them to repent but not that God wants them to open their eyes to his love and change their minds. But try to scare them into the kingdoms by fear of hell.
The internal root is that God loves us and wants to give us power to heal that broken part of the soul so we will not want destructive sin. He knows how we were created and how we can be happy in him. He wants us to change our mind about who God is.
The world and the devil want people to continue to think God hates us and that we are worthless and destined to hell so we better live it up.
God is not angry with us. He wants us to come to him to be cleansed of sin, remade in our hearts so we will love what makes us flourish not what fills us with slavery, grief, and destruction.
It is true God hates sin because it is killing us and his good creation. And if you reject him, he cannot help you. He allows his wonderful creation to be what He made it to be and we were made to be cooperators with Him in creation. We can choose to receive or reject his grace and directions.
It is true there are rules for the kingdom. But not rules that are harmful, they are actually freeing. When you drive on the roads you are comforted that everyone knows the rules of the road and less accidents happen when people drive in those rules. But those who reject the rules cause harm to themselves and injure or kill others on the road. All the rules for the kingdom free people to be happy and healthy.
PRAY
Lord Almighty God, help me see you. Help me know you. Help me not listen to those who are trying to bully people with legalistic rules for the externals through anger and hate, but open my heart internally to your amazing love and grace to follow you so that I can have peace and happiness. You came to save sinners! ALL are sinners. You came to save ALL. Break my heart with your love and Save! Help me not reject this wonderful love, help me receive it! It seems too good to be true and I am beaten and battered by the world so it is hard to believe. Help my unbelief. Amen.
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