the PRAYER …
Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
the READING …
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. luke 4:14-21
the DEVOTION …
“Charismatic Christianity,” according to Wikipedia, “is a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and modern-day miracles as an everyday part of a believer’s life.” An emotional, enthusiastic, hands-in-the-air, speaking-in-tongues kind of thing. Prophecy. Signs. Wonders. The whole nine yards. Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye were charismatics. Kenneth Copeland … and Joyce Meyer … and Oral Roberts … and Jimmy Swaggart are, as well. So it’s not difficult to read those first words from Luke and think of them … “Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit ….”
For us, though, being filled with the Holy Spirit isn’t nearly so … dramatic. For us, being filled with the Spirit is more modest, more discreet. From our perspective, the Spirit has always had an affinity to the gospel. In! With! Under! Like the water of Baptism! Like the bread and the wine of Communion! The Spirit’s there, just not making a big deal about it! The Spirit’s there every time the gospel’s proclaimed! Every time the goodNews is administered! Calling! Gathering! Enlightening! Making holy! But the power? It’s nothing less than the love! Unconditional! Unearned! Undeserved! Without measure! Without limit! Without end! So, this week, we see a Jesus filled, not just with something – with someone – unearthly and otherworldly. We see a Jesus filled with grace! With charity! With love! And that, my friends, is Power!