Image by Eradio Valverde, Jr., made with ReType.
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4: 14-21 NRSV
Dr. Tony Campelo tells the story of a person visiting a factory. They are shown every aspect of this well-running operation, but finally they ask, "We've seen every part of the factory and I'm impressed, but where is the shipping department?" The tour person smiled and said, "Everything produced in this factory is done just to keep the factory running; we have no shipping department." Many churches are just like this factory, and in fact, Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up in his church and spoke the very same words. Jesus shared the "shipping department" or fulfillment department of God; concern for the poor, love for the captives, deliverance for the blind, and preaching that glorifies God's favor to those who are favor-less in the eyes of the church/world.
How do you define fulfillment for your church? How do you define fulfillment for yourself? Is God's love and favor in those two definitions? If not, we've missed the point of fulfillment. Every Spirit-filled person who lives out their life for God is led to go among those not yet being reached by established organizations such as the church. First, most Spirit-filled persons are led to church to worship God. And they go to hear what God would have them do next in and with their lives. And most of that would include outreach for those not being reached. His sermon was not received well by the religious, but it touched the heart of those in relationship with God.
Fulfillment comes on through and in God. Go fulfill yourself!
PRAYER: Loving God of fulfillment; anoint me again and again with Your Holy Spirit. Lead me to the place where I find fulfillment in giving and sharing, not just in receiving and smiling. This I pray in the name of He who fulfills me, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
