PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 4:22-30
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.” (Luke 4:22)
Jesus brings goods news to the poor, prisoners, blind, oppressed.
His words are extremely gracious to people on the outside.
In theory, this was spoken well of… until he actually followed through.
When Jesus actual brings in and blesses these outsiders, people are upset.
Jesus points to two examples of God’s grace to outsiders from their past.
The Gentile widow of Sidon, and the Gentile Naaman the Syrian.
When Jesus welcomes sinners and tax collectors, the trouble starts.
Speaking grace to church people is one thing, but bringing in ‘outsiders’!?
I recall upset parents when non-christian youth came to youth group.
‘What if they lead our children astray?’
God’s grace is nice to hear about in church with our kind of people.
But God’s grace is meant to bring others in, back into the God’s family.
Do we realize the full extent of grace, and how radical our inclusion is?
If God can let me in – and you – then God can let anyone in!
PRAYER
Lord, we love grace… until it applies to someone we don’t think deserves it. Impress how radical your grace is or me, so that I can extend it to ‘them’ as well.
They couldn’t get past the familiarity – or the expectation for ‘special favours’ – but they couldn’t accept that Jesus was the Messiah: “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.” Is that a problem for us if we are so immersed in ‘Christianese’ – that it also takes the wonder away – the awesomeness of God’s grace extended to us – so undeserving – that we take it for granted or even think we have a ‘margin’ on God? I deserve it??! How ridiculous but often so true. Even righteous Job shut his mouth when God came to him – God’s Holiness is totally ‘out-of-this-world’! Lord help me to be gracious!!
Although the people of His hometown had heard of what Jesus had done, they only saw Him as the son of a carpenter and couldn’t accept Him as the Messiah. He had come from a lowly family an as such could not be the Messiah. They had become so angry that hey wanted to kill Him. God’s grace is sufficient for all. God’s mercy is for all. Our hearts and our actions must be in tune with His will, not only by superficial actions bur with a heart full of love for God and His people. We are all children of the King, precious in His sight. His grace is for all.
1 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
2 Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–
Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. [Refrain]
3 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]