Today’s scripture: Luke 4:23-30 (NRSV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Julie Walsh):
Do you know the feeling of turning on someone in an instant?
Nestled into my most comfortable chair one afternoon, I was drawn into a message being preached by a televangelist. I was fully engaged in his words, nodding in agreement and saying “Amen.” I believed his words to be thoughtful and spirit-filled.
But in the blink of an eye, he touched on a subject that was fundamentally opposed to what I believed. My first reaction was to disregard everything I had heard him speak about and to add him to my list of “religious adversaries.” After all, I was offended! How dare he string me along with his uplifting gospel message then squash my hopes with this rhetoric!
And so it was with those in the temple listening to Jesus. In the previous verses, the people in the congregation “all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” But as quickly as they received him, they were just as quick to turn against him. As the story continues we find that “all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.” Now that is severe! Imagine the emotional wave that moved them from awe and inspiration to a deep rage intense enough to kill!
What drives us away so fast?
My televangelist was back on topic and after further examination and proper perspective I remembered that this preacher did have many valid spiritual points. It really wouldn’t be fair to throw out the key messages I had received simply because we were in disagreement elsewhere. In fact, there were other options before me. I could pray for this man because I honestly believed he was simply a victim of misinformation. And while I prayed for him, I could also ask God to impart wisdom and truth to me because I’m sure there are plenty of areas in which I have been misinformed as well.
We don’t have to let our pride stand in the way of receiving God’s Word. And we don’t have to harbor any grudges when people don’t live up to our own ideals or expectations.
Thought for the day: Be alert! Be receptive! Be bold!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.