Listen

He began to explain to them, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.”

Everyone was raving about Jesus, so impressed were they by the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?”

Then Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’” He said, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown. And I can assure you that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years and there was a great food shortage in the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in the city of Zarephath in the region of Sidon. There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.”

Luke 4:21-27

Think

Believe that you have been called — no, chosen — to do something special. It doesn’t matter who you are, what reputation you have, the past choices you made, how your parents see you, or how you see yourself. What matters is that right now, at this point, at this place, God wants to work through you.

Some may dismiss you like they dismissed Jesus in his hometown. Some may challenge you, and others may even rise against you. But remember, you are the one God can use to make a difference. So stay focused, stay determined, and do what you are called to do no matter how difficult. God speaks through you and the world needs to hear what God has to say.

Ed Stallworth

Pray

Lord, work in me so that others may see you through me. Give me the strength to rise to the challenges of being your servant. Amen.

Go

Francis Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary use words.”

May God walk with you, work in you, and speak through you because of the life you live.