Missed blessings....

Plowing on in Luke 4 and it is GOOD stuff! Isn't all of it, really? Go back with me to the time of Jesus. Imagine sitting in church and Jesus Christ comes in, gets handed the scroll, stands, opens it and begins to say "The Spirit of the Lord is one me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor." He then finishes these words from Isaiah, closes the scroll, looks around and says "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." CAN YOU IMAGINE?

Sometimes when we read thru the Scriptures - having the "hindsight" that we do - we find ourselves going "What were they thinking". I know I do, at least. This was one of those times. Jesus begins to confront the Jews in the synagogue of Nazareth with the ugly truth of their pride (vs 23-27) and boy do they turn on Him. Verse 22 says that after he read the Scriptures "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." So their initial reaction was admiration at their "hometown hero", but then Jesus tells them that they will reject him like they did Elijah and Elisha (some of their best known prophets) they turn on him wanting to throw him off a cliff.

It just really struck me that I certainly shouldn't judge them. I mean, how often when faced with the ugly reality of my sin do I immediately get defensive and angry? All too often I'm afraid. No one likes to be called out for blowing it, but sometimes that's what it takes. It takes a TRUE friend who will say "I love you girl, but that was wrong". No one wants to be in that position - either of them really - but it's what we're called to do. "Spur one another on toward love and good deeds" Heb 10:24. So my prayer is to love those around me enough to call them out if they need it - in LOVE of course and with gentleness - but also that I will surround myself with those who won't be afraid to call me out. (this means you Leigh, Melissa, Jennifer, Faith, Nicki, Lisa! haha)

Luke 4 continues with Jesus heading out to Capernaum to spread the good news and along the way encounters demons who IMMEDIATELY know who He is! (which is another amazing point - the Jews in the synagogue at Nazareth didn't get it but the demons of hell did? OUCH!) So Jesus tells them to hush it and go - and they flee! Think of the blessings Nazareth missed. Think of the healing their families would've had, the demons that would've been cast out, amazing stuff, but they refused Him. Think of the blessings we miss. Not because we refuse to acknowledge Him, but because we refuse to let go. We refuse to surrender and cling to Him alone for EVERYTHING! Lord, may it never be!! I don't want to get to heaven and see all the things you had for me but I missed them. Don't let me sit in pride and miss your blessings!