Mark 3:1-6, "And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.  (2)  And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.  (3)  And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.  (4)  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.  (5)  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  (6)  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."

How sad it is when people, who have an opportunity to see Jesus, entirely miss the opportunity! I believe the reason that they miss it is not because they do not want to see it.  The truth is (just as the Pharisees in the verses above) they have distanced themselves from God.  Because of that distance, they are now experience great bondage. This bondage creates "blinders" which inhibits them from being able to see Christ and His marvelous works.  Recently someone said to me, regarding their time in the morning with God, "Devotions don't work."  Devotion defined is "The state of being dedicated, consecrated, or solemnly set apart for a particular purpose." That particular purpose is what drives misery or victory.

The Pharisees of all people should have been rejoicing in the fact that Jesus had come. They were teaching about the coming Kingdom.  They saw people responding and experiencing healing both physically and spiritually.  Yet, they would watch, murmur, and plot to kill Him.  Why, because their devotion was on something else besides Him.  Their hearts had become hard and prideful.   They were more dedicated to the rules and laws, than the law Giver.  They were blinded.  Jesus was doing things that they had never seen before and instead of getting to know Him, they rejected Him and tried to find fault with everything He did.

It's sad! The Pharisees were the religious leaders of their day, they knew everything about Him, but never knew Him!  They were in church every Sunday, their prayers were long and they probably used big words.  They even had a public ministry because of the status that it would bring to them; but they missed Jesus.  They were more focused on their appearance than the condition of their heart.  They got busy doing the work of God, and forgot about being with God.  Don't be like the Pharisees and miss Jesus.  Jesus desires truth and focuses on the heart, while Satan desires deception and focuses on appearance. Don't go through the motions and miss the personal relationship!  Jesus tells us to love the Lord with all thy heart.  That my friend is devotion to a Person and that Person is Jesus.

Today, will you know about Jesus or will you know Jesus?  Will you see Him when He is working, or will you be blinded?  Will you desire His presence or will you desire your preferences?

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.