SATURDAY (3/6/21)

Hello, my name is Phil Lubensky. My wife Jodi and I have been part of
Riverside for about 10 years. We are also part of the West of Westside
Home Group. We have lived in this area for over 20 years, but grew up in
the Pittsburgh area of Western PA.

  • Please take a few minutes to read through Matthew 12:1-21.

In this passage, we see that the Pharisees are at it again! Here they
confront ‘The Lord of the Sabbath’ and criticize He and His disciples
for what they did on the Sabbath. They misunderstood that God never
intended for the 5th commandment to apply to the service of God,
deeds of necessity or deeds of mercy. God truly desired for the Nation
of Israel to cease from work on the 7th day and to act mercifully toward
others and ‘Do Good’.

For Christians, the distinctive day of the week is the first day, Sunday.
The Lord Jesus arose to life on that day! However, if I’m not careful (and
I’m far from perfect, as my Home Group can attest), I can treat the Lord’s
Day just like any other day.

There’s joy in the fact that Jesus freed us from all the false rules and
regulations of the Pharisees. For me/us, the Lord’s Day should be a day
of privilege and freedom…‘To do good’!

Reflect and consider the following questions:

  • How well do you honor/celebrate our day of privilege?
  • Another way to ask this question is: In how many different ways do you worship God on Sundays?
  • What are some ways you can keep Sunday ‘special’…by showing mercy…by doing good to/for others?