Then he asked them, “Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?” But they were silent. [Mark 3:4 (GW)]

“You’ll go to Hell if you do that,” was the judgmental pronouncement given to my friend because she would be the witness at her son’s wedding to an atheist. Whose law was that, God’s or man’s?

In Exodus 20, God commanded that the seventh day was supposed to be a day of worship and rest. By the time of Jesus, however, the religious leaders had made many additions to that law with complicated designations of what was considered “work” and what was “rest”. Except in an emergency, healing was considered “work” and unlawful on the Sabbath. Of course, there were more explanations of what defined an “emergency”.

Although Jesus knew the law, he healed on the Sabbath at least seven times. Which honored God more: giving sight to a blind man or ignoring his need? Which brought someone closer to God: healing a lame man or walking away from him?

Those two questions can continue to guide our behavior today. Which honors God more: being loving or judgmental? Which might bring someone closer to God: seeing His love in an accepting mother-in law or starting a marriage with discord, strife and disapproval? Demonstrating God’s love and grace is the best witnessing we can ever do. Jesus gave us the only two commandments we really need: love God and love our neighbor. They should always be our guide in every action; if we follow these two mandates, we can’t go wrong!

Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” [Matthew 22:37-39 (GW)]