11 February 2008 - I know what I'm here for...

Luke 4:14-19 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."

Lent is a time of reflection, a time of seeking after God.  It's a time of stripping away the things that have cut across our walk with Jesus, a time to "Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Heb 12:1).

The 40 days we follow mirrors Jesus' wilderness experience but does, I wonder, the result?  What strikes me is that during that period Jesus became utterly clear of his ministry, his mission, indeed his destiny.  This comes over so clearly when one of the first things he does is announce the Kingdom in the synagogue.  The result was that obstacles did not deter him but he continued faithfully to fulfil his God-given purpose. 

Do you know your God-given purpose?

Have you let obstacles discourage you, and get in your way?

This week we'll look at overcoming obstacles so we might discern and fulfil our purpose, to the praise and glory of God.

David Brown