Verse:
“All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” ...When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.”
Thought:
Unassuming as it is, Curiosity strikes you as you drive by, this
little general store is much more than that. Locate between Dallas and
Houston, really no-man's land, smoke billows out of the front door, and with it
a rich aroma that makes you stop dead in your tracks. It does not look
like much, wooden walls, an old wood burning stove, shelves with basic store
items, a register and pictures on the wall are the decor. To understand why
there is such a crowd and excitement about being there is a mystery. It is
a mystery until you experience The Leona General Store. The food is a
resounding WOW. But wait, isn't that the building that has always been
there? And doesn't to belong to a pastor? Funny how stereotypical details can
cloud our experience and rob us from seeing reality. Jerry is not alone.
Hear the Good News, the encounter with Christ is unassuming until you
experience the reality of Christ. Once you experience the reality of
Christ, your life is changed forever. When Jesus went to the synagogue
that day, He revealed who He was and announced why he was there. Those present
were amazed, astonished and probably shocked. They had indeed heard the
stories of His ministry and had to be awaiting word from Him with baited breath.
Then suddenly, the make-up and chemistry of the group turned sour and doubtful
as stereotypical questions or comment came to the surface. How sad He must have
been, unable to be received at his own home. To often we do the same thing, we
fail to give an experience and opportunity because we "know enough" or have it all
figured out. Our experience of Christ calls us to look, see, taste, smell and
feel in a new way, yet our old life yearns to dictate how were are to understand
or judge situations. Christian Maturity. This is the sum total of our Christian
experience and understanding in spite of everything else we know. We must stop and
adopt a new thought process and allow our faith, our Christian faith, guide and lead
us in life. Don't just give it a chance, make it a way of life.
Prayer:
Gracious God, You are always there, so why we find our own life full of doubt is puzzling. Please help me to look at life through the eyes of Christian experience instead of selfishness. Help me to make a life change instead of only giving it a chance. Finally, I thank You for all You have done in my life and all You will continue to do, for I come to You through Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Savior! Amen.
Grace & Peace
David Banks
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