Devotion 
Lord of the Sabbath, Lord of all days
David Jacobs 

These verses make me sad. How could the Pharisees possibly decide, after seeing Jesus heal and feed those that needed it, "how they might destroy" Jesus? Then I started to think about it a little deeper and how I have acted at times, and it began to make more sense.

Think of a dark time in your life, one where God was testing you, and you couldn't figure out why. Did you always react calmly? Do you ever regret some of the things that you thought or said towards God? I certainly know the answer for myself, and it is a mistake I have made several times.

It can be difficult to get over ourselves sometimes. We often inflate our egos and when make everything about "me" when it should always be about God. He has a plan for all of us, just as He had a plan for Jesus. He also had a plan for the Pharisees who saw Jesus break the Sabbath rules, saw him perform acts that they could not, and saw themselves being less important than before. They inflated their egos and decided that committing an act of evil that they knew was wrong at any time, not just on the Sabbath, and plotted to kill Jesus! On reading this I was angry at these foolish Pharisees for not seeing God's plan, and a bit bashful when realizing that I could easily have been one of them. I have not always trusted fully in the Lord, and these verses helped me know that I must improve and humble myself. God has a plan, on the Sabbath and every day.

Prayer 

Merciful and forgiving Father, how lucky I am to have you in my life. When I have been weak, you have forgiven me, and with each time I gain a stronger faith. Praise be to you, my one and only Lord, for giving your only begotten Son to us, so that we would have a shining example that never strayed from your path. I beg that you strengthen me, my Lord, as you strengthened Jesus. In his holy name I pray. Amen.