October 4, 2009
SCRIPTURE: Luke 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” [Luke 4:42-43] Jesus is Immanuel, ‘God with us’. As comforting as this sounds, it can also be twisted into bad theology. The Nazis said ‘Gott Mit Uns’ to justify their own self-serving agenda. Jesus is on a mission, to demonstrate and declare the new order (kingdom of God) He has come to establish. But in this chapter we see demonic attempts to turn His presence into a self-serving agenda.
Satan attempts to focus Jesus on His own needs, His own glory. The people of Nazareth are happy, so long as His first concern is them (and the Jews), but get very upset when He suggests that God’s interest goes beyond them. When Jesus heals people as a demonstration of the kingdom, the people want Jesus to stay, to keep His miracle presence and power near. They tried to keep him from leaving them. God with us, and lets keep it that way!
God loves me, but I am not His agenda. Its not all about me, or you, or us. It is always about the world, about all people, about setting the captives free, about declaring the Lord’s favour for all people. When church becomes inward-focused, the people become passive consumers of religious comfort. We evaluate church and minister and programs for what it does for us. We have our agenda, and He meets our needs (‘Gott Mit Uns’).
Jesus is on the move, and so are His followers. As soon as His followers become stationary, and try to keep Jesus close to them, they cease to be His followers. He has moved from your church into your neighbourhood a long time ago. Did I follow Him? If not, then I am no longer a Jesus-follower, whatever other label I may give myself. The church is a movement, not a place. When it stops moving, it stops being church. Our facilities and programs, which begin with good intentions, soon become barriers to His mission. “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
When we do join with Jesus in demonstrating and declaring the kingdom of God (or go to every nation, making disciples), we have this assurance, that He is with us to the very end of the age [Matthew 28:18-20]. He is with us, because we are with Him where He goes.
PRAYER:
Lord, You came on a mission, and call me to join be a missionary with You. Help me to move beyond myself and my agenda, to You and Your agenda.
After the devil had tempted Jesus, he left Him for an opportune time. That is the way of the devil also tempting this day, at opportune times. Open my eyes Lord so that I too may proclaim the Word to thwart his power and limit his claim.
As Christ was not accepted by His hometown so too there are many who proclaim the good news and/or desire to be His worker in a specific area/field and the people put challenges and roadblocks in their path rather than encouraginging them on their way. We all need open ears, open eyes and open hearts so that His will be done – loving – knowing – doing – wherever He leads us. His will be done!
Wherever Christ went, He ministered. On call – 24/7. Yet He always found time to spend with God alone. Attuned to the Source of Power. And so I too, need to be attuned each day and spend time with my power Source so that I am able to do His work.
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!