Ready for God's Message
"He began teaching in their synagogues...They were saying, 'Is this not Joseph's son?'...He said, 'Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown'...All the people in the synagogue were filled with rage." - Luke 4:15-28
The people in Jesus' hometown failed to receive His message. Why? Because they were not listening to His words. Instead, they were thinking about His background and family. They wouldn't accept Him for who He truly was, because He was speaking in "his hometown."
These men and women were not open to the move of God. Their minds were closed. They had made up their minds.
They would not even consider that God could give them new revelation and insight. Their ideas were so fixed that they were unwilling to lay aside their prejudices and preconceived ideas.
Fortunately, the reaction was different in Capernaum. There the people actually listened to Jesus and "were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority" (v. 32).
How often do people today make the same mistakes as the people of Nazareth? God wants to speak to them, but too often they're caught up in the reactions of the flesh. Instead of listening for God's voice, they're preoccupied with earthly matters.
Many of these people are bound up by prejudices. Others focus on human elements or their surroundings. Some are distracted by a person's style, background, or appearance.
Don't let this happen to you! In every situation, seek to be open to the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to guide you, teach you, warn you, and speak to you.
Right now, submit your life fully to God, and ask Him to help you be sensitive to His Spirit. Ask Him to help you hear and obey His Word.
As the Lord leads you, lay aside your prejudices and preconceived ideas. Give Him permission to speak a fresh word and reveal new insights and deeper truths to you.
These men and women were not open to the move of God. Their minds were closed. They had made up their minds.
They would not even consider that God could give them new revelation and insight. Their ideas were so fixed that they were unwilling to lay aside their prejudices and preconceived ideas.
Fortunately, the reaction was different in Capernaum. There the people actually listened to Jesus and "were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority" (v. 32).
How often do people today make the same mistakes as the people of Nazareth? God wants to speak to them, but too often they're caught up in the reactions of the flesh. Instead of listening for God's voice, they're preoccupied with earthly matters.
Many of these people are bound up by prejudices. Others focus on human elements or their surroundings. Some are distracted by a person's style, background, or appearance.
Don't let this happen to you! In every situation, seek to be open to the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to guide you, teach you, warn you, and speak to you.
Right now, submit your life fully to God, and ask Him to help you be sensitive to His Spirit. Ask Him to help you hear and obey His Word.
As the Lord leads you, lay aside your prejudices and preconceived ideas. Give Him permission to speak a fresh word and reveal new insights and deeper truths to you.
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