by Pastor Rich Carlson

One Sabbath morning, Jesus read from the book of Isaiah during the synagogue service. The crowd listened attentively to what He read, but soon turned against Him and took Him to a precipice, ready to throw Him over the edge (Luke 4:16-30). So what caused the sudden change in attitude?

The portion of Isaiah Jesus read was 61:1-2, in which the prophet admonishes God’s people “to preach good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” and finally, “to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor.”

The crowd did not like the fact that Jesus reminded them that God had called them to be a special people so that they could be a blessing to the Gentiles. They resented the fact that God was willing to bless Gentiles instead of them, should they choose to reject Him. And they were about to take it out on Jesus when angels came and rescued Him.

I hope it’s not that way in churches today! But, unfortunately, sometimes we get so comfortable as Christians that we forget we’re called so that we can call all God’s children to Him. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing to God’s people everywhere. If we have been given authority or power it is so that we can use that authority and power to preach good news, relieve suffering, release captives, and recount the story of Jesus to all His children. We have so that we can give. That’s what we’re called to do.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.