[Anglican Devotional 29 November 2021] Topic: Scripture And Kingdom-Based Ministry

Posted by: Henry || Categories: Devotional

TOPIC: Scripture And Kingdom-Based Ministry

READ: Matthew 4:12-17 (NKJV)

Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.
And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, [By] the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
THE MESSAGE:

There are two remarkable things that our reading for today reveals to us – they are the fact that the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ was rooted in the scriptures and emphasised the need for repentance in order to enter into or to partake in the Kingdom of God. In carrying out His earthly ministry, Jesus went only to places that made Him fulfil the scriptures; He did not just go anywhere. We read that: “He departed to Galilee… that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet… (verses 12-16). What He came do here on earth, including some of the places He would go to, had been foretold and He lived his life to fulfill them (see Isaiah 9:1-2). Again, He carried out a ministry that stressed the need repentance, that is, a call for people to turn around and serve faithfully.

As followers of Christ, we are all called to live lives that at all times and in all places, fulfil the will of God and we are equally called to preach the message of repentance to sinful humanity or to repent if we are still living in sin.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us to live according to Your will and to preach the message of the Kingdom now and always. Amen.

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