Luke 4:14-21
Reflect
Today on my way to work I took public transport. (Edmonton roads once again are an ice rink). I met a little boy and his Mum and we started chatting. The boy asked me all kinds of questions and I ended up proclaiming that life with God is an adventure! All happy and fulfilled, I left the LRT. Could this be what Jesus is referring to when He says:
“Proclaim good news to the poor
Proclaim freedom for the prisoners
Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.“
The prophesy from Isaiah 61:1,2 was well known to every Jewish person in Jesus’ time. We hear it often quoted as “the ministry that Jesus came for”. (“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” v21) What a measure for our ministry!
Living in the western world, I wonder why Jesus says He came to proclaim the good news to the poor? Looking at the prophesy again, it hits me that when people are at the end of their self-help, when they are needy--bodily, spiritually, emotionally--Jesus can step in. He can proclaim and change and bring new beginnings.
Apply
Keep your heart and eyes open to God’s Spirit to lead you to “the needy”, to proclaim the good news that Jesus makes all things new!
Annette Faszer
Pray
- Pray for our Senior Lead Team Pastor, Lyle Buyer, his family and his ministry.
- Pray through the prayer section in our program.
- Pray for Karen Alksne, our Congregational Life Ministry Assistant.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Mike Bartusek and his family.
- Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various ministry groups in our church this week.