What's holding you back? What issues are keeping you from living out the words of Jesus?
In our text today Jesus is in the Synagogue teach and preaching. This text actually comes from Isaiah 61, and Christ is proclaiming the beginning of a new ministry to the least of these. This calls all Christians to work on behalf of all oppressed and marginalized members. So what's holding you back?
Let's look to the text:
Luke 4:16-23 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ 22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ 23
Brothers and Sisters, honestly we make excuses for ourselves why we are to busy, or cannot live out Christ commission. We see the homeless, we walk pass the beggar, we here the police sirens and read the newspaper stats, but never visit the prison. All of these things we know God has called us to, so what's holding us back? Is it our fear, is it we are too busy to minister to our fellow man? I wonder what the world would look like if everyone took time out weekly to do some sort of outreach ministry. Maybe it would look like Jesus wanted it to?
today reflect on how we can live out the commission of Christ through ministry to the poor, imprisoned and forgotten by society.
Be Well, Pastor J
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