The Scroll in the Nazareth Synagogue 5/25

 The Scroll in the Nazareth Synagogue

Jesus walked into the small synagogue in Nazareth. Dusty floors and tired people filled the room. He stood to read from the prophet Isaiah. They handed Him a large scroll. Jesus unrolled it and found the exact passage. He read aloud to everyone. He announced that God's Spirit was upon Him.

Jesus knew the Scriptures intimately. He had studied them since His youth. This moment required preparation. He did not rise to this occasion by accident. His years of learning equipped Him for this declaration. He came to proclaim good news to the poor and freedom for the captives.

Many of us own multiple Bibles yet know little of their content. We have more access to God's Word than any generation in history. But we often neglect the daily discipline of studying it. We want spiritual authority without the prayer closet preparation. What specific area of Scripture have you been avoiding that you know you need to study?

 “And 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 for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written...” (Luke 4:16-17, KJV)

Prayer: Ask God to give you a fresh hunger to open His Word and study it with diligence.

Challenge: Open a Bible to the book of Isaiah and physically place your hand on the page, reading chapter 61 aloud to yourself.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media