Good Morning Friends,
Today’s readings return us to the moment when Jesus recalls David eating the holy bread—a reminder that God’s law is meant to serve life, love, and relationship, not rigid control. David broke a rule yet acted in alignment with God’s will, showing that discerning God’s heart matters more than policing infractions. This invites us to reflect on the purpose of laws in our church, our society, and our own lives. So, Do We Understand the Purpose of the Law of Love?
Scripture: Mark 2:23–28 (NRSV), Psalm 111:1–10 (NRSV), and1 Samuel 16:1–13 (NRSV)
Message: Across today’s scriptures, one truth stands out: God cares more about the heart than appearances, and more about relationship than rule‑keeping. In Mark, Jesus refuses to let the Pharisees turn the Sabbath into a burden. By recalling David and the bread of the Presence, He reveals the law’s true purpose—to nourish, restore, and remind us of God’s care. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
God’s choice of David shows this same truth. Samuel is tempted to judge by outward strength, but God looks at the heart. David is chosen not for status but for openness and trust. God still works this way, calling surprising people in surprising places to carry out His purposes.
Psalm 111 calls us to praise this faithful God whose covenant love endures forever. He feeds, redeems, and gives wisdom to those who seek Him.
And Hebrews reminds us that the God who sees and shapes the heart is also the God who keeps His promises. Abraham endured patiently, and God sealed His word with an oath so that we might have “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” Our hope is anchored not in our strength but in the character of the One who cannot lie and in Christ, our High Priest who has gone before us. When we grow weary or the path is unclear, this hope steadies us.
And So, let us live by the law of love, not fear. Let us judge not by appearance but allow God to shape our hearts. Let us anchor ourselves in God’s promises rather than drift in our own strength.
Pray for honesty, repentance, spiritual integrity, and daily nourishment in Scripture. Pray to trust God in difficulty, to treasure Him in your heart, and to live the law of love with courage and joy. Pray for rest in Christ’s freedom, for hearts God delights to use, and for perseverance in the hope that anchors the soul. Pray to trust the God who sees us, calls us, and keeps His promises.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 