Today’s chapter is Luke 9

Tom writes:

The Jesus journey is reaching a critical point; patterns have been set, eyes have been opened, hearts have been captured. And so it is the time for the lightning fire of pure revelation to be injected into the mix. It is not the lightning fire of judgement as Israel may have expected; judgement of the Romans, judgement of the gluttons and drunkards who littered Jewish society. Instead the lightning fire is the news of Jesus’ departure. Often it is entrances that are glorious, it is arrivals that stir the crowds. But with Jesus it is his departure that excites figures no less great than Moses and Elijah. The glorious splendour of Jesus is not that he comes with a sword but that he departs to leave his Spirit. His desire, at this stage in proceedings, is not to establish an earthly power that draws lines around itself and opens fire on the outsiders. His desire is to depart so that his house can be opened to all. His desire is that service and humility, welcome and permission can be released in his people through the work of his Holy Spirit. We live on the receiving end of this desire.

Our glorious inheritance is of a departed king. But our king has left his presence behind him. Our King has left his presence to transform us from self-obsessed, hostile-minded individuals into generous, life enhancing communities who bring hope and transformation to his fallen world. I so much want to be part of one of those communities. I yearn for church to be like Jesus died for it to be. And, when I think about this, I realise that church can be like that - that the Presence in me is strong enough to use me as a catalyst to spark such a church into being. That same presence lies in you; the power is in our hands. Will we scrabble around for chances to confess Christ, to feed the hungry, to serve kids, to deny ourselves. Or will we keep on taking our hand off the plough? Will we let self-respect or the opposition of others or a lack of comfort cause us to forfeit our very selves? O Jesus please make me worthy of your kingdom. Please make me great in your kingdom. Please let me be one who doesn’t taste death until I really see the Kingdom of God manifested in our midst.

Question for reflection

What would it look like for the Kingdom to be established in the midst of your life circumstances?

More resources are for you at www.anewtestamentjourney.net

Luke 9 - Thursday 11th January