Thoughts for the Day

Luke 4:42-43 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.  The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.  But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God in the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

By our measures, things could hardly be going better for Jesus at this point.  His ministry is powered By our measures, things could hardly be going better for Jesus at this point.  His ministry is powered by the Spirit and impactful in all the right ways.  He is so popular that people come looking for him in the early morning and, when he decides to move on, they do their best to convince him to stay.  How would we respond to such success and popularity?  I’d suggest there are two risks or temptations here that Jesus very clearly does not fall into.  First there is the risk of becoming more active and just not having time to pray.  Luke highlights this theme about prayer again.  He doesn’t mention the word, but is there any doubt that is why Jesus went out to a solitary place at daybreak?  Second there is the risk of getting caught up in the success.  I’m not saying success isn’t a good thing.  But Jesus could so easily have been diverted by the success he was enjoying where he was that he delayed moving on.  But no, he kept his focus on the mission to which he knew he was called.  “I must … because that is why I was sent.”  I wonder if sometimes it is God’s mercy when we struggle to find that clear purpose we think we would like – because He knows we would struggle even more to follow it!