Becoming Purposeful - Part 3

Focus Scripture

Luke 4 : 14-21

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

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, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And 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. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

Daily Byte

If ever there was a person who had a sense of purpose, of calling, it was Jesus. At the start of his ministry, he made it clear what he was about - liberation, wholeness, upliftment, justice. It was clear from the very beginning: whoever followed Jesus was joining him in a whole new way of living in the world, a whole new system of relating to one another, of sharing the world’s resources, of deciding who was important and who wasn’t. Everything would be different for the followers of Jesus, and his purpose was to become their purpose, our purpose.

Read the words Jesus read from Isaiah again. What do those statements mean to you? In what ways do you believe that Jesus is still bringing good news to the poor, liberation to the captives and restoration to the blind? How do you feel about being part of this mission, even if only in a small way? As we worship, we are reminded of this purpose of Christ, and we are called to participate in it. How does your worship teach you to be part of Jesus’ mission? Try and put one ‘saving’ action into practice in your world today.

Pray As You Go

You were not playing games, Jesus;
this mission of yours was not about cosmetic changes,
not just reassuring the religious people
or inviting the non-religious to consider a change;
Your mission was about changing everything;
about a total overhaul of how people worship God,
and how people treat each other,
and how we live in the world.
But, what is so amazing, is that, from the start,
you invited people to be a part of it,
you called simple men and women to be your co-workers;
and now you also invite me.
I long to be part of your mission, Jesus;
I want my worship to show me your vision
of what the world can be,
and to inspire me, empower me,
to loving, liberating action.
Yes, Jesus, I will follow you.

Amen.

Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission

To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com