Prayer Practice:
Lectio –
Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God
to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now
ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may
mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready
to really hear from God through His Word.
Daily Reading: Luke 4:31-44
Devotional:
by Pastor Jeff Morlock
Words are potent. They have power to uplift or discourage. They
have power to heal or destroy (the old “sticks and stones” adage notwithstanding).
A torrent of words
pours forth from mass media and from every political platform and soap box.
Words move people to buy and sell, to hate and to love. They can depress,
distort, and deceive, poisoning the springs of our common life. Hence need to
be careful about what we hear and what we say.
Which brings us to the Word of God. Do you hear it with selective submission or with the full faith and obedience? Jesus spoke God’s Word as no one had spoken it before. The prophets spoke with delegated authority – “Thus says the Lord.” The Scribes and Pharisees leaned on supporting quotes from other sources, often punctuating their teaching with question marks. Jesus’ teaching was punctuated by exclamation points and needed no human authorization, for he was authority incarnate - the Word of God made flesh.
When Jesus
spoke, it was God’s voice the people heard. At his command, sickness and
disease fled, for the Spirit of the Lord was on him to set the oppressed free. Even
evil spirits obeyed. And if even demons believe in the Son of God, how much more
can we trust his Word and receive it expectantly, with engaged minds? How much
more can we eagerly submit to his wise counsel, in the knowledge that his Word
always does what it says, and accomplishes every purpose for which he sends it?
In what way has God’s Word (spoken, written, or incarnate) been calling you to yield or obey lately? In what way has the Word encouraged you or set you free?
Lord, your word is power and life. Help me to obey your
teaching and to never doubt the ability
of your promises to save, heal, and restore. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
1 comment:
Pastor Jeff:
I recently listened to a sermon by Tim Keller which included a segment on the power of Words. You asked in what way has God's Word called us to obey. James says, "the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness".
Recently, I have had to dig deep calling on the Holy Spirit to quench the fire of my tongue when discussing political differences with family and friends. I need, as the old Pepsi ad said, "The pause that refreshes". When I feel my need to counter another's position yet sense the Holy Spirit restraining me, it increases my awareness of how prideful I am at my core. Goes back to C.S.Lewis in Mere Christianity where in the Pride chapter he summarizes that Pride has at its core its competitiveness..."I am right and you are wrong"..
Thank you for your words today. Your timing is perfect for me as I am meeting with a very contentious person who can single-handedly create a roomful of tension. Come Holy Spirit!
Have a blessed day.
Robin Lorms
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