Gracious Words

It was said of Jesus: “And all bare Him witness, and wondered at the Gracious Words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?  ~ Luke 4:22 

   

Our Message today touches the heart of each individual as we explore “Gracious Words.”  It was said of Jesus that all who heard Him that day in the Synagogue wondered at His Gracious Words! Gracious has a depth of meaning that is often overlooked.  For a few minutes we focus on its meaning: Merciful, Compassionate, polite to inferiors … In this Message today we will note that Jesus had been among the people routinely at the Synagogue, now all of sudden they notice Him in a different light. What brought about the changes in Jesus? He had gone through ‘preparation’ for His Ministry, He had passed the test of temptation, He had been faithful to honor His Father. How did He pass His temptations?  By speaking the Word of God. Jesus returned from His testings “in the power of the Spirit!” As He read from the Book of Isaiah, the Scripture revealed who He was: And what stopped them in their tracks and caused them to wonder at the Gracious Word, was when He said: “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears! Gracious Words should come forth from our mouth when we are filled with the Spirit of God. Words of Mercy, Compassion, and love for the less comely! We read in [Prov. 12:14] A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: We find instruction in the Book James, Jesus half brother: And this is the point of our Message today. [3:9-11]  “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” I believe God is speaking to His followers, the ones who are called by His name. Is our conversation “Gracious?”  Is it Christ-like? Does it magnify God? Does both blessings and cursing come from our lips?  “…be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” ~ 1 Tim. 4:12  Let us press for the prize of the high calling together!   Loving you, Pastor