Luke 11:52

The salvation God  gifted mankind in Jesus Christ is the only  knowledge that you need! He is the only truth that matters and the only way to the Father.

Luke 1

77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Psalm 91

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Reading this from David Whyte helped me… Thankfulness finds its full measure in generosity of presence, both through participation and witness. We sit at the table part of every other person’s world while making our own world without will or effort, this is what is extraordinary and gifted, this is the essence of gratefulness, seeing to the heart of privilege. Thanksgiving happens when our sense of presence meets all other presences.”

I say yes. And thank you. 

And this... My hero, Mr. Fred Rogers died on Feb 27, 2003. “Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbor.” We miss you Mr. Rogers. Sabbath Moments 

Luke 11:52

52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” The New King James 

Reflecting the light and darkness imagery of the previous passage, Jesus’ remarks here highlight the importance of sincere obedience over religious pretense. This section combines two episodes recounted in Matthew and Mark. The first involves the dispute over ceremonial washing before meals. The second is Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes (teachers of the law) and Pharisees. Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus charged the lawyers with doing the opposite of what they claimed their calling to be. Rather than bringing people nearer to God, they had removed the possibility of their entering into that knowledge, and had prevented others from understanding as well. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Luke 11:46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

Romans 2:20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

Ezekiel 48:30-34

From one family the nations of the world have been blessed. From this lineage, Jesus reigns. All man, all God, all roads lead to Him. Abraham and Sarah and their descendants remain special to God. It was too small a thing that Jesus came only to this family. He came to save the world that God so loved. 

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Family is important to God.

God's faithfulness is clear. His steadfast love is sure.

In suffering and provision. In the middle and on the other side.

Friend, as believers in Christ, we know the end of our stories too. But it's what happens here, in the middle, that makes that ending so powerful. Jesus, the God-man, who would one day be born through the lineage of this very family is going to make new all things in this world (Revelation 21:5). The happiest of endings is on the way. And God is working while we wait.

Will we choose to trust God? First5 

Ezekiel 48:30-34

30 “These are the exits of the city. On the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits 31 (the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel), the three gates northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi; 32 on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan; 33 on the south side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun; 34 on the west side, four thousand five hundred cubits with their three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. 35 All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE. The New King James Version

The gates are named after the original twelve tribes. The gate for Joseph represents the two tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. The northern gates are Reuben (the firstborn), Judah (the tribe of the messianic line), and Levi (the priestly tribe)—all descendants of Jacob and Leah. On the eastern side the gates represent Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan. While the first two were children of Jacob and Rachel, the third was the child of Jacob and Rachel’s servant Bilhah. South of the city, the three other offspring of Jacob and Leah have gates named for them: Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun. The three western gates are named after Gad and Asher—the sons of Jacob and Leah’s maidservant Zilpah—and Naphtali—a son of Jacob and Bilhah. The NKJV Study Bible

Access to the city comes through 12 gates, three on each side. They are named for each of the 12 tribes. Faithlife Study Bible

Here is a description of the several portions of the land belonging to each tribe. In gospel times, behold all things are become new. Much is wrapped up in emblems and numbers. This method God has used to state mysterious truths in his word, not to be more clearly revealed till the proper time and season. But into the church of Christ, both in its state of warfare and triumph, there is free access by faith, from every side. Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers. Whoever will, may come, and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:6 

“Let Reuben live, and not die,

Nor let his men be few.”

Deuteronomy 33:7 

And this he said of Judah:

“Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah,

And bring him to his people;

Let his hands be sufficient for him,

And may You be a help against his enemies.”

Deuteronomy 33:8 

And of Levi he said:“Let Your Thummim and 

Your Urim be with Your holy one,

Whom You tested at Massah,

And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah,

Revelation 21:12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Revelation 21:13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

Romans and Harmony

God created our world without chaos. 

His way is the way of peace and harmony.

Jesus restores peace!

Rest in His peace, not the peace of the world, but in the peace He offers to all who believe.

In the New Testament, we see several ways Jesus is the better mediator of a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6).

● Jesus is the perfect, eternal Son of God. (John 1:1-2;  1 Peter 2:22-23;  Hebrews 13:8)

● Jesus frees us from spiritual slavery to sin and death. (Acts 13:38-39;  Colossians 1:13-14)

● Jesus is the Word of God, who reveals the Father to us. (Exodus 3;  John 1:1;  Hebrews 1:1-3)

● Jesus brought the new covenant; He secured our redemption with His blood, and through His sacrifice we receive salvation by grace through faith. (John 1:17;  Hebrews 9:11-12;  Hebrews 9:15)

● Jesus is God, and He died, was buried and rose again ... His followers knew exactly where His grave was, and they found it empty! (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Through faith in Christ, we can look forward to a glorious end to the story of God's people when Christ returns and makes all things new (Revelation 21:5-6). First5 

And Jimmy Carter has been on our hearts and minds this week. This is what he wrote after his encounter with The Church of the Exceptional. “I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live. This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence, and fame, but adhering to God's standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness, and love.” SabbathMoments 

Hebrews 10:14 says, “He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Note that the word is not “improving.” God doesn’t improve; he perfects. He doesn’t enhance; he completes. When it comes to our position before God, we’re perfect.

And when he sees each of us, he sees one who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect—Jesus Christ. He sees perfection. Not perfection earned by us, mind you, but perfection paid by him. Scripture says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Max Lucado

Paul wanted to exhort Jewish and Gentile believers to live in harmony. As in most of the early churches, the gospel brought different groups of people together who otherwise would have stayed apart, whether for reasons of nationality, status, or culture. Once they came together under one roof, the challenge was to preserve their oneness in Christ. Thus throughout the letter, Paul deals with problems arising from Jewish and Gentile differences. He emphasizes what everyone shared. Since there is only one God, He is the God of both Jew and Gentile. Both groups are under sin (3:9), and both are saved through faith (3:30). This theme of Jew and Gentile living together surfaces most clearly in chapters 14 and 15, where Paul deals with the practical aspects of being together in one body. Paul hammers home his central theme: The righteous God justifies and ultimately glorifies both Jew and Gentile by grace through faith. 

Paul refers to himself and his fellow Jews. He acknowledges that they did have an advantage in having the law and God’s covenants. But this advantage does not exempt them from God’s judgment. Paul argues that sin is universal. Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles are guilty before God, who shows no partiality. NKJ Study Bible

Romans 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

Romans 3:30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. The NKJV Study Bible

All people—even Jews who were entrusted with God’s oracleare under the control and power of sin. Like everyone else, Jews are subject to God’s judgment. Paul reveals that God provided a solution to this shared problem of sin: righteousness by faith in Jesus (or by God’s faithfulness revealed through Jesus). Faithlife Study Bible

This question means “Do we Jews have an advantage over the Gentiles?”. In other words, “Is there anything we can cling to for protection?” The answer is no, since all are under sin. The NKJV Study Bible

By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Saviour, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 11:32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Mark 2:17

Grace, God’s precious grace, His gift to all who accept the salvation He offers to mankind.

 Jesus died so that we could live. 

The battle has already been won.

When we start to believe that we have earned God’s salvation remember this: there is no one righteous.  Jesus, the gift of God, is the only way to the Father. Nothing else matters.

3 John 1:2

2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 

Romans 3

10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 

Luke 19:10

for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Blessings are one of the most common themes in my prayers. I pray for blessings for my family, friends and anything else I want God's favor to be upon. I surrender the limits of my abilities and hard work to His ultimate power in my life. I trust Him to do what I cannot, and more, because of His great love for me.

We can pray both for God's blessings for ourselves and God's blessings for others. 

This concept of blessing brings to mind the importance of the words we speak over others and allow to be spoken over us, as life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). May God help us keep a watch over our lips (Psalm 141:3). First5 

Heroes are ordinary souls who carry the weight of ordinary life. And heroism is born in every act of kindness and compassion and inclusion, no matter how small. Because in a world cynical and afraid, it takes courage to be kind and generous of spirit, and to fight for compassion and mercy and justice. SabbathMoments 

To accept grace is to admit failure. We opt to impress God with how good we are rather than confessing how great he is. We dizzy ourselves with doctrine, burden ourselves with rules, think that God will smile on our efforts. He doesn’t. God’s smile is not for the healthy hiker who boasts that he made the journey alone. It is, instead, for the crippled beggar who begs God for a back on which to ride. Max Lucado

Mark 2:17

17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them,  “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The New King James Version 

He is simply pointing out that the call to repentance and offering of forgiveness are for those who need it—sinners. Faithlife Study Bible

In this instance Jesus was speaking tongue-in-cheek when He used the word righteous. None are righteous, though some, such as the Pharisees, fancied themselves as such. Instead, Christ came to call sinners to repentance—a change of mind that recognizes the need of a Savior and recognizes Jesus Christ as the only Savior. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 9:12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

2 Corinthians 3:16–18

Precept by precept we are changing. 

Precept by precept we learn the way of grace in Christ Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

To God be all  glory!

Thankfully, we have Jesus, the Word of God made flesh and blood (John 1:14). Acts 4:11-12 tells us "Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else. He took on the provocation of our sins and endured the pestilence, or consequence, of our choices: death. 

The power of God, our Rock, is most clearly seen in Jesus' life, death and resurrection. First5 

What I am learning is this: Perhaps the very people I exclude, are the ones who carry the light—the candle—that will allow me to see. That will allow me to see the Grace of God. Yes, and the expansive reach of God's acceptance. To every single one of us.

Today (in the Christian church), we begin our Lenten journey (Ash Wednesday). An invitation to remember where our identity is tethered. Permission to detach (or empty) ourselves from those things we may cling to, remembering instead that humility is not such a bad thing (human and humility are derived from the Latin word, humus, meaning earth). Bottom line: we have no need to impress or prove or earn, knowing that our wellbeing (or identity and worth) is imbued with and sustained by the very breath of God.

And... Happy Birthday John Lewis "Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." SabbathMoments 

2 Corinthians 3:16–18

16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. The New King James Version

One turns to the Lord refers to conversion and the reception of the Spirit. The veil removed signifies that nothing stands between believers and God. 

Through Christ, God has reconciled the world to Himself, bringing freedom and forgiveness. 

Paul may be identifying Christ with the Spirit—particularly in terms of their roles—while also distinguishing between them. Jesus and the Spirit are elsewhere identified with each other. It also is possible that 2 Corinthians 3:17 clarifies verse 16, where “the Lord” refers to God the Father. In this case, Paul’s point is that the Lord of the old testament is the Spirit of God. Either way, the Spirit’s role in lifting the veil is central to Paul’s message. 

The ministry of the Spirit brings freedom from the power of sin and death—those things that the law could not free people from. Unveiled faces represents freedom and confidence to enjoy God’s presence. The same image refers to the image of Christ that believers bear. 

Paul suggests that believers will progress through ever-greater degrees of glory (doxa in Greek). This may mean that they will learn and grow more in their relationship with Him over time. Alternatively, this progress may begin with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and culminate in the transformation of the physical body into a glorious one. Faithlife Study Bible

Whenever Moses turned to the Lord, he took off the veil. Likewise, we find freedom in Christ by looking to Him. 

The Holy Spirit is God Himself, like the Father and like the Son. 

The Spirit gives us freedom from sin, death, and the condemnation of the law. 

All believers behold the glory of the Lord in the Scripture and are transformed into the image of God. Christ is the image of God. 

As believers behold the glory of God in the Word of God, the Spirit of God transforms them into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is a description of the gradual process of sanctification. The NKJV Study Bible

Those who lived under the law, had a veil upon their hearts. This veil is taken away by the doctrines of the Bible about Christ. When any person is converted to God, then the veil of ignorance is taken away. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is happy, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God’s commandments. They have light, and with open face they behold the glory of the Lord. Christians should prize and improve these privileges. 

We should not rest contented without knowing the transforming power of the gospel, by the working of the Spirit, bringing us to seek to be like the temper and tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and into union with Him. We behold Christ, as in the glass of his word; and as the reflection from a mirror causes the face to shine, the faces of Christians shine also. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Exodus 34:34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded.

John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

Matthew 2:22–23

Jesus did not leave us alone. From the least to the greatest of believers, Holy Spirit guides and directs our lives. It is spiritually discerned…it may not make sense to our flesh.

Our part is to learn to trust Him and listen!

Jesus is our Redeemer; "through the eternal Spirit [He] offered himself without blemish to God." By offering Himself as a sinless sacrifice for us, He "purif[ied] our conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:14). Now, through faith in Christ, we, too, have the privilege of presenting ourselves to God for His divine purpose.

As followers of Christ, we can cling to the promise of God completing His work in our lives too (Philippians 1:6). David Guzik notes, "Joshua needed to take strength and courage in the LORD and was small enough to be big in God." This humble "smallness" is not a reduction in our value; rather, it's a realization of the power that comes as we depend on God (John 15:4-5). First5 

“You are the light of the world,” Jesus reminded us. And yet, we read it as a command rather than an affirmation.
Here's the deal. Jesus never said, "Create the light. Contrive the light. Design the light. Engineer the light. He never even said, ‘Be good at light shining.’"
He said simply, "Let." Meaning "allow."
Meaning, get out of the way. The light is already there.
Inside of us.
Now.

SabbathMoments 

The supreme force in salvation is God’s grace. Not our works, not our talents, not our feelings, not our strength.

Faith is not born at the negotiating table where we barter our gifts in exchange for God’s goodness. Faith is not an award given to the most learned. It’s not a prize given to the most disciplined. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Mac Lucado

Matthew 2:22–23

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” The New King James Version

When Herod died, his kingdom was parceled out to his three sons: Archelaus, who ruled over Judea where Bethlehem was; Antipas, who became tetrarch of Galilee, Perea, Samaria, and Idumea; and Philip, who was tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis. Like his father, Archelaus was violent and cruel. The Romans tolerated his savagery for ten years and finally deposed him in a.d. 6. after a Jewish delegation took their protest to Rome. Joseph, aware of Herod Archelaus’s reputation and guided by God in a dream, turned north to Galilee. Nazareth was the location of the Roman garrison in northern Galilee. Those who lived there were suspected of compromise with the enemy. The NKJV Study Bible

The family must settle in Galilee. Nazareth was a place held in bad esteem, and Christ was crucified with this accusation, Jesus the Nazarene. Wherever Providence allots the bounds of our habitation, we must expect to share the reproach of Christ; yet we may glory in being called by his name, sure that if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Mark 1:24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

Luke 2:39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

John 1:46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Ephesians 4:30–32

If  you can be anything, as the hands and  feet of  Jesus Christ,…be loving and kind. 

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 1 Peter 3:8 

John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." Jesus doesn't want us to live in fear. He tells us trials and sorrows are a part of life, and bad things happen, but He offers us peace in the midst of whatever life throws our way.

The antidote to dread is the assurance that no matter what the future holds, God is already there. First5 

When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire Him. When you recognize His wisdom, you will learn from Him. When you discover His strength, you will rely on Him. But only when He saves you will you worship Him. Max Lucado

Ephesians 4:30–32

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. The New King James Version

Paul seems to be indicating that poor treatment of others can constrain the work of the Spirit—essentially denying or resisting God’s indwelling presence.The Greek word used here, charizomai, implies not only forgiving, but doing so with a gracious attitude. Paul uses this same word elsewhere to describe God’s forgiveness. Faithlife Study Bible

The Holy Spirit of God should never be pushed away, ignored, or rejected. If we would remember that the One who lives in us is God’s own Spirit, we would be much more selective about what we think, read, watch, say, and do. Note that Paul acknowledges that evil thoughts and actions are temptations even for those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit. The NKJV Study Bible

Be ye kind one to another. This sets forth the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expression of it, in a humble, courteous behaviour. 

Mark how God’s forgiveness causes us to forgive. God forgives us, though we had no cause to sin against him. We must forgive, as he has forgiven us. 

All lying, and corrupt communications, that stir up evil desires and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. Corrupt passions of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil-speaking, and malice, grieve the Holy Spirit. Provoke not the holy, blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presence and his gracious influences. 

The body will be redeemed from the power of the grave at the resurrection day. Wherever that blessed Spirit dwells as a Sanctifier, he is the earnest of all the joys and glories of that redemption day; and we should be undone, should God take away his Holy Spirit from us. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Isaiah 63:10 

But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;

So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,

And He fought against them.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Mark 3:6–7

In the midst of those who sought to destroy Him, Jesus withdrew Himself. He is our example.

Sometimes removing ourselves from the conflict is the best choice to make. Praying for our enemies places God in control of the situation and removes us from it. We do not fight against flesh and blood but the enemy of our soul…and Jesus has already defeated him.

• Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live" (Deuteronomy 30:6).

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules" (Ezekiel 36:26-27). 

Again, we see God's grace to forgive and change His people. 

God has given His people a shift in perspective. We don't obey the law to become righteous; we obey because He has given us new hearts. Due to Christ's death and resurrection, we now have the Helper, the Holy Spirit, sealed within us, empowering us to obey. 

Right before Jesus went to the cross, He implored those who would follow Him, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever" (John 14:15-16). 

What we cannot do for ourselves, Christ did for us. Even though we have all the instructions, the law of God, we cannot fix our hearts. Christ alone does this through the power of His Holy Spirit living in us, changing us from the inside out, when we turn and ask Him for forgiveness. This is the grace God offers. 

While the law equips us with wise principles and reveals to us the holiness of God, only Christ can empower us for holy living through the Holy Spirit within us. God gave the law to us to show us our need for a Savior. To live according to faith in Christ is what results in peace and eternal life.

But listen to God's heart of concern, even in the Old Testament: "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23).

Because God came to us and showed us His grace and mercy, we can turn to God and ask for His forgiveness and He extends His grace. First5 

When no one is watching, live as if someone is. Succeed at home first. Pray twice as much as you fret. Listen twice as much as you speak. God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same. Once a week, let a child take you on a walk. Only harbor a grudge when God does. Never let the important be the victim of the trivial. Max Lucado

Mark 3:6–7

6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. 7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. The New King James Version

Jesus again follows a confrontation with the Pharisees by withdrawing to the sea, accompanied by crowds receptive to His ministry. Faithlife Study Bible

The Pharisees were religious experts who should have led the people in righteousness. Instead, they plotted Jesus’ death with the Herodians, their bitter enemies. They were willing to set aside differences to destroy a common foe. The Herodians were Jews who supported Rome and the Herods in particular. Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, ruled Galilee during the same time that Pilate served as Roman governor over Judea and Samaria. 

Because of this plot against His life, Jesus withdrew with the disciples from the area. Still crowds flocked to Him from north (Galilee), south (Judea), and beyond. The NKJV Study Bible

All our sicknesses and calamities spring from the anger of God against our sins. Their removal, or the making them blessings to us, was purchased to us by the blood of Christ. But the plagues and diseases of our souls, of our hearts, are chiefly to be dreaded; and He can heal them also by a word. May more and more press to Christ to be healed of these plagues, and to be delivered from the enemies of their souls. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

Mark 12:13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.

Luke 6:17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,