Human beings have a
tendency to find ways to explain and justify what they are doing when it is
against the accepted rules. Humans seem to have an inborn tendency to to
always want to push the envelope. There are many example of it in the Bible.
I ran across one today.
Acts 1:12(NKJV)
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the
mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.
What the heck is a
Sabbath Day's journey I wondered to myself. I decided to look it
up. Here is an excerpt from an article I ran across.
"According to the Mosaic law every Israelite was
forbidden to travel on the Sabbath day.
Exodus 16:29 "See, for the Lord hath given
you the Sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two
days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the
seventh day."
But there is also
evidence that the Israelites were permitted to go a certain distance on that
special day. For example they could visit the tabernacle and temple from any
distance within the encampment or city.
Over the centuries
the authorities within the rabbinical circles of Judaism found ways, from
examining the miniscule details of the law, to increase the distance that an
Israelite may travel on the Sabbath day. In ancient times they determined that
one may travel on the Sabbath from within the city boundaries and this distance
was fixed at 2,000 cubits. They based this on Joshua 3:4-5:"
What I found
interesting is that over time people found more and more ways to justify being
able to go further and further on the Sabbath. And it was all according
to the rules, at least in their minds. As I read the article I thought some
of their justifications were really a stretch.
So where am I going
with this? I'll tell you. Isn't it nice that we don't have to play
these games with Jesus. We aren't bound by the law. Jesus has set
us free. It's pretty simple. Either you believe in Jesus or you don't.
You're either saved, or your not.
Which is it for you?
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