Psalm 71:1-6 –
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
Jeremiah 1:4-10 –
The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
“Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overflow, to build and to plant.”
Luke 4:14-30 –
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
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.
Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”
“I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed – only Naaman the Syrian.”
All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
We were redirected to Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon where we were warmly welcomed by a number of people and reacquainted with some friends.
Ben Avon is a traditional stone and massive woodwork Presbyterian Church and has a great cross hanging over the chancel. I didn’t realize how much that symbol means to me until I worshiped in churches that seem to be embarrassed by the cross.
I couldn't help but reflect on what an overwhelming challenge it must be to try to warm a sanctuary of this size on cold Sundays.
I was happy to see youth and adults as part of the worship; it’s great to spread that ownership of the church. I sensed a lot more spirit in the congregation than our last visit…the church is alive.
The sermon wove around Christ’s reading from the Torah in His hometown.
I was pondering how we are just the same, we feel Christ owes us a miracle and sorrowfully would not accept Him for Who He is. We are amazed at the faith failures we read of in the Bible and have trouble admitting what hopeless failures we also are but for the saving grace of Christ.
God has used me to bring miraculous healing in two churches where I was a member. In both there was cause to leave not long after and in both the person who was healed also left. It seems we are uncomfortable if it doesn’t fit the “what about me” mold.
I appreciated the elements of Communion being carried in and presented to the pastor. Communion was served, but silently, and I appreciated the choir solos during Communion. I also enjoyed the anthems presented by the youth and the adults.
I have been thinking a lot this week about the number of people who know Christ. They can preach the Scriptures and know a lot about God. I have been impressed how they can dissect and explain nuances of Scripture. I’ve been told how we should behave, what we should believe, and what we should go and do. I am disappointed to realize some of the most academic scholars of God know a lot about God but don’t know Christ.
I was happy to worship with a pastor who knows Jesus.
We visited this church one year ago almost to the day and returned by invitation of a member/friend. I realized today that we know more than a few people at this church.
We were greeted warmly the moment we walked in, and the conversations continued throughout our visit, some with friends and others with folks we had not met until today. I found the friendliness and ease of conversation heartening and all the greetings made me feel truly welcomed.
The signage at this facility is phenomenal.
This church has a beautiful chancel and gorgeous woodwork throughout the sanctuary. It’s an appropriate setting for a traditional Presbyterian worship service.
The numerous children of the congregation are permitted to help in the worship service. I was glad we were sitting so close to the front to be able to witness the young acolyte being guided by an older girl as she oversaw the candle lighting. So sweet!
The Junior Choir consisted of eight youth. They sang from the opposite side of the sanctuary from us and I could hear them perfectly. Also impressive was that they sang from memory.
The sermon, “What About Us?” spoke to what it was like for Jesus to return to Nazareth. The pastor pointed out that the people had high expectations that Jesus would “pull out all the stops and put on an exceptional show. They watched Him grow up…in their minds He owed them a miracle.”
Jesus responded to these expectations by pointing out that the widow to whom Elijah was sent was not a Jew, and Naaman, whom Elisha cured of leprosy, was also a foreigner, and those who heard Him understood what He was telling them…that “God blesses the least, not those who think they deserve it.” These people were waiting for something for themselves, and when it became obvious they would not receive what they thought they were due, they moved to kill Jesus; however Jesus “slipped away.”
The pastor asked if that isn’t what people believe today…”Our religion has to count for something.” Being a Christ-follower is not about us, but about Christ…and about His other children who are not yet part of His Body.
At the same time, it IS about us. As followers we are not promised a life free of pain or suffering or loss, but we are promised the Presence of Christ through all of life’s ups and downs and an eternity with Him when we die.
I am grateful God led us to this church this week, happy to have renewed friendships, and thankful to have heard this thought-provoking message.
Lord, we pray You will open our eyes and our hearts and remind us that it is not about us, but all about others. Bless us with discernment that we may know Your voice, that we may know You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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