Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
Luke 4:31-32 (NIV)
Have you heard good preachers and teachers? Have you just wanted to sit and sit and just listen? Fill notebooks with the wisdom that they share? Go and mull over the words, letting them take root in your life and grow some good fruit? And know you can go back and soak up some more?
The people of Capernaum brought sick and dying people to Jesus and He healed. (vv. 40-41) They also brought their agendas to Him! They had a plan for Him. “Stay with us, Jesus. We love what You say and do! You’re the best!†They wanted to plan Jesus’ itinerary – direct His course. They had a good idea to keep Jesus in their town. It wasn’t God’s idea however.
At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.†vv.42-43
Jesus resisted the flattery and pull of the people and stayed to the course that the Father had given Him. Could all these people be wrong? YES! Jesus turned His back on that pastorate call and followed God’s will. He left some sick people not healed and some questioning people not taught so He could follow the call that was just for Him – unique to Him from the Father. He trusted that the Father had the plan and would care for those people left behind – in the Father’s time and plan for them.
God has called me to a path that is unique to me. There are many good ways to use my God-given gifts but only on God-way. When I walk in the middle of God’s way, there is His peace, His abundance in the fruit produced – the path has His characteristics and glorifies only Him!
Remember the story of Jesus showing Peter how to fish? (Luke 5) Jesus tells the fisherman, Peter, to put out into the deep water. Now Peter has fished all night and caught…nothing! He’s tired and wants breakfast and his bed – not more work!
Maybe as he throws the net out as Jesus instructed him, the net touches the water, he looks back over his should at Jesus like – “WHATEVER!†And Jesus begins to slowly smile because He knows Peter is about to get his arms yanked!
Within minutes, the boat is filled with flopping fish! Peter doesn’t care about the smelly fish – He only cares about how bad he smells!
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!†Luke 5:8 (NIV)
Jesus has no intention of doing that. He doesn’t abandon us – especially when we realize how much we need Him! He uses us, teaching us what we need to know to fulfill His call on our lives.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.†v. 10 (NIV)
Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and our hands to the plow and stay the path that is in the plan from the Father.
