Jesus is loving... so we're loving

Hey Bridge Family!

 I want to share something I read last week: wherever Jesus went, He was reversing the effects of the Fall. The clearest examples are His healing of others. Because of the Fall, sin entered the world. We know sin brought death, but it also caused blindness, deafness, muteness, cancer, and many other diseases along the way. Though temporary, we read of God making these things new. Of course, one day we will see Him make all things new, but that is a talk for a different day. 

This week’s story shows Jesus reversing the effects of the Fall by healing a woman who was crippled for 18 years. He does this on the Sabbath in a synagogue, which causes resentment from the synagogue leader and others. Why? Because they fail to see that the Creator’s love is being poured out on His creation. Instead, they focus on Jesus working on the Sabbath. They didn’t realize what they were witnessing; this happens when we focus on the wrong things. Before criticizing the Pharisees, let’s give them some grace. They aren’t much different from us. Their mistake was misplaced focus—striving for obedience led them to prioritize rules over love. I believe they cared for others and wanted what was best, but they missed recognizing Jesus because of their strict adherence to rules. 
We all want our children to grow into obedient followers of Christ, hoping they will be morally upright and positively impact society. Rules are important, and the Bible provides valuable guidance for living morally upright lives. However, adhering to morally right rules isn’t the ultimate point of the Bible; Jesus is. Many children drift away from church as adults because they realize that keeping biblical rules is impossible. We parents, like the Pharisees, want what’s best, but we also can become too focused on rules, and in the process, our children miss Jesus. The best way we can show love, as our Bible Point suggests, is by loving others —or, better yet, by sharing the love of Jesus. In our homes, we should have rules, but even more importantly, we should nurture a love for Jesus. 
 Remember, it’s never too late to engage. As long as your child is at home, you have an excellent opportunity to share the Bible and explore it together, making faith an exciting and meaningful adventure. God Bless, and hope to see your family on Sunday. 
 Pastor Bob