"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to bring Good News to the poor... to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free."
Twenty days! Half-way through. Gotta keep going.
Jesus was thirty by the time He began His public ministry. He continued for about 3 years. Within those years He projected a different paradigm. An alternate view that would drastically change the world.
The history-altering ministry of Jesus is revealed in this truth—a passage that Jesus himself was asked to read during a visit to the local synagogue about proclaiming release and favor. What a passage for Jesus to read!
Bear fruits in keeping with repentance (Luke 3.8)
If I am truly repentant, it has to show. That’s what John the Baptist is saying here. I can’t say sorry and keep doing the very thing that causes offence. My actions need to follow my repentance. “Oops, I did it again” will not cut it.
What then shall we do? (Luke 3.10)
In a world of know-it-alls offering masterclasses and YouTube how-tos, it’s easy to believe we can do it all with a few clicks. It takes a jolt to realise that I need to ask Someone Who Knows Good: what then shall I do?
The Next Opportunity (Luke 4.13)
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. We think this was the only time Jesus was tempted, but this verse tells us otherwise. He would have been tempted in other times. Just like us!
Is Jesus an inconvenience? (Luke 4.34)
How many of us would admit to saying “Go away!” to Jesus? Surely there have been times when Jesus and His message was an inconvenience to the way we would like to live our lives. We say: Not now Jesus. Don’t mess with my plans. Next time you have these thoughts, say to them: Be quiet.
Identify one area where you need to turn around and commit to a tangible action this week that demonstrates real repentance.
Bring a specific decision to God today. Spend extra time in quiet prayer, honestly asking: "What then shall I do?"
Identify a recurring temptation and find one specific Scripture to memorize and recite the next time you face that battle.