“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” -Luke 4:21
The glory of God is often revealed when and where it is least expected. God uses our lips to declare that glory, inexperienced and hesitant though they may be. God uses our love to demonstrate that glory and so urges us to exercise it. God uses Jesus of Nazareth, water and the word, bread and wine, to reveal God’s glory where and when God chooses. Take heed, lest the glory of God slip through our midst unnoticed.
Sunday Worship Music
The Hymn of the Day at our Traditional services is “He Comes to Us as One Unknown.”
As the crowd at the synagogue go from amazed at Jesus teachings to desiring of hurling him off a cliff, we sing of our Lord who comes to us in unexpected ways with unexpected messages. The Christ comes to us as one “in all the scriptures shown, as yet unseen, but not unknown.”
The Worship Song at our New Day Praise service is “Better Is One Day.”
Referencing Psalm 84, the worship song lifts up the themes of trust and contentment in the Lord’s presence. “For here my heart is satisfied within Your presence I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings.”
For Your Reflection
Open your Bible (or go online) to Luke Chapter 4 and take a look at the section headings of this chapter. A lot goes on!
The chapter begins with Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, then turns to temptation in the wilderness, then continues with the official beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, then a “cliffhanger” of a sermon and rejection in his hometown, and carries on with a continuation of ministry that includes healing and teaching. The Gospel of Luke details the highs and lows of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
Looking at chapter 4 of this Gospel, where does your focus gravitate?
What verses do you find yourself reading more carefully?
How is God speaking to you in these verses?
Rejection is a common human experience, yet none of us look for it.
When have you experienced rejection?
Were you able to heal from it?
Were you able to learn or grow from the experience?
