With a Subtitle: Ask Him to give you the grace to accept the prompting and working of the Holy Spirit when He points out something to you.
A brief Excerpt: Luke 4:16 highlights Jesus’ synagogue attendance on the Sabbath. The devotion encourages reflection on habits and seeking God’s grace for change.
Scripture
Our verse for today is from Luke 4:16, “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”
Background
I tried to save myself a few steps this morning by rearranging where I laid out my clothes last night. But as you might expect, I walked right by them and continued on my normal routine for getting dressed in the morning. Sometimes, even the smallest, insignificant habits are slow to give in. I imagine many of you began your day as you always do, drinking a cup of that wonderfully smelling, fresh-brewed elixir that is coffee. Many would claim to be unable to function without that jolt of caffeine to jumpstart their engine. Perhaps reading this devotion, or something similar to bring you together with the Lord, has become part of your routine to begin each morning. But regardless of what it is, big, small, or nearly undetectable, we all are filled with habits that go to make up our day. Now, Jesus had a few habits as well. Our verse today says His custom was to go to the Synagogue on the Sabbath. We also know He liked to go away to a solitary place and pray. He was constantly attracting crowds, did most of His teaching in parables, and seemed to spend a lot of time in the homes of those who might not be known as the town leaders.
Application
Now, if you were to stop and take a look at your day or your week, what habits would you see that make up the person you have become? What types of things fill your hours and testify to who you really are? I dare say that upon examination, there are many things in each of our lives that we know need to be removed and others that need to be added to our routine. Some might seem small, like greeting everyone you see with a smile and a hello instead of looking past them. Some might be more challenging, like how you respond to disobedient children or repeated annoyances from your spouse. We may need to pray more or change how we pray. Maybe we should listen more and give our opinion less. Whatever it is, ask God for grace. And make the change, believing He is able to make you more like Him.
Charge
As we seek Him today, honestly consider what things about you God might want to change. Ask Him to give you the grace to accept the prompting and working of the Holy Spirit when He points out something to you.
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
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