Today's Passage - Luke 4:25-30

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 4:25-30   'I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.  Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.  And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed - only Naaman the Syrian.'...  But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.   In this passage, the Lord told the most truthful words to the locals of Nazareth.  Why is that?  Because the locals didn't believe Jesus Christ was the Savior.  Why didn't they believe?  It is because Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus.  In verse 22, when they saw Jesus, they asked "isn't this the son of Joseph?"  It seemed like they were looking down on Jesus.  Lord mentioned the story of Elijah here, because the Israelites didn't accept the way of God back in Elijah's time, but they went farther from God.  So God chose gentiles to be blessed by His grace.   In the town of Nazareth, Jesus wasn't accepted by his own people; Israelites also refused to accept this savior, so they didn't receive the Lord's grace.  Our hearts should be comforted when we ready this scripture passage, for even Jesus was looked down by people!  As we serve the Lord, we are often hurt and we may encounter setbacks, or even looked down on; many can easily criticize and judge us by our past.  When we, however, become new creatures in Jesus Christ, we may regain strength to face our new life and every new day.   We can easily become frustrated and disappointed when we encounter setbacks, but we thank God because that didn't happen to Jesus, for He continued to march forward.  He wasn't frustrated even when the Nazarenes wanted to push Him down the cliff, and He still kept on going because He clearly knew His mission from God.  When we serve God, we also need to know the mission that God's has given us.  We will surely encounter setbacks and we will be criticized and judged, but will we become frustrated and lose our determination?  May God have mercy on us, help us to really know the mission that He granted us, and also let us keep on moving forward without fearing criticism or despise, like our Lord Jesus Christ. I encourage you to stand up again.  No matter how deeply you were hurt in the past, get up for the Lord!  The Lord died for you on the cross, and He was also humiliated in many ways for your sake.  God has called you to follow Him today, and to follow Him under any circumstance.               Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you were humiliated for our sake, and you experienced much suffering on the cross.  Please help us to courageously stand up again by your love and sacrifice, and to become glorious witness of yours.  I ask that you bless the brothers and sisters, especially for those who have been hurt, were frustrated and experienced setback before.  May the Lord encourage them, and help them to stand up again for you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, thanks!