Do you make others jump through hoops?

July 28, 2009

The life of Jesus. Read Today: Pharisees seek a sign; Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-13

Matthew 16:1-4 (MSG)
1 Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them.

2 He told them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor's delight;

3 red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather-why can't you read the signs of the times?

4 An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you'll get is the Jonah sign.” Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

People always seem to want a sign of what is happening in their lives. Before the religious people of Jesus day could believe on Him, they wanted a sign that Jesus would not give them. It is easy for us to reach across the centuries and say that they were foolish. They should have seen the living God in their own midst. Guess what. We are no better.

We want to see a sign that people love us. We want to see in them what we expect them to be to prove that they love us. None of us are immune from doing it. A husband or wife looks at their mate and says, you are not doing this for me, you must not love me, show me a sign that you do.

There is a problem with that. Now in order to show love, each time we must, like the trained lion at the circus, jump through each hoop that is set before us, or force our loved ones to do the same for us. Jesus very wisely chose not to jump through their hoop. He knew it would only lead to more.

We as believers need to stop making others jump through our hoops. In the end it proves nothing.

Read for next time: Leaven of the Pharisees; Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-21

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