Set Free: 21 Day Devotional: Day 2
DAY #2
Key Verse:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has send me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Luke 4:18-19 NIV
Reflection:
Church two thousand years ago looked a lot different from what it does today. The scroll that was read in the synagogue, carefully picked and handed to the reader, “happened” to be from Isaiah as it is recorded here. Luke recalls this moment just a few short verses after telling of Jesus’ 40 days of testing in the desert. Forty days, I, myself, am weary after 4. But instead of crawling out of the desert, being depleted and exhausted from weeks on end of spiritual battle, scripture records that, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” (4:14)
He didn’t take a vacation. He didn’t have a long sabbatical. Jesus faced immeasurable testing and emerged as a conquering victor. And on this morning, He reads what God’s people had only been promised: good news, restoration...freedom. Despite not yet having died and resurrected, Jesus boldly tells those who would hear, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (4:21)
When I imagine this moment on an otherwise usual Sunday morning service in His hometown of Nazareth, I can’t help but think of the familiar faces He was speaking to. People who had heard the words over and over. The same city that would reject Him and become an obstacle for any of those promised miracles to take place. But I also can’t shake the excitement and JOY that must have been radiating from our Savior. His face wasn’t stern, weary from the fight. Scripture records that He was full of grace. While the tangible reality of their surroundings and the familiarity of the messenger clouded their judgement, Jesus was resolute in His speech. He could see what they could not. They had no idea they were even bound; still, Jesus’ heart is to set them free.
He didn’t take a vacation. He didn’t have a long sabbatical. Jesus faced immeasurable testing and emerged as a conquering victor. And on this morning, He reads what God’s people had only been promised: good news, restoration...freedom. Despite not yet having died and resurrected, Jesus boldly tells those who would hear, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (4:21)
When I imagine this moment on an otherwise usual Sunday morning service in His hometown of Nazareth, I can’t help but think of the familiar faces He was speaking to. People who had heard the words over and over. The same city that would reject Him and become an obstacle for any of those promised miracles to take place. But I also can’t shake the excitement and JOY that must have been radiating from our Savior. His face wasn’t stern, weary from the fight. Scripture records that He was full of grace. While the tangible reality of their surroundings and the familiarity of the messenger clouded their judgement, Jesus was resolute in His speech. He could see what they could not. They had no idea they were even bound; still, Jesus’ heart is to set them free.
3 Questions To Consider:
- In what way have you become wearied from continual spiritual battle, that you might have stopped believing God for breakthrough or victory?
- Is there an area of your life that has grown complacent with familiarity that could be hindering God’s desire to bring you into more healing and freedom?
Prayer Focus:
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