Daily Devotional

“I tell you the truth,” He continued, “no prophet is accepted in His hometown” (Luke 4:24, NIV).

Sometimes I wonder if we are so familiar with the facts about Jesus that they lose their impact on us. Many of us have grown up going to church. We live in a nation where it used to be common to hear public prayer in schools, at every graduation ceremony at every level of education. But then something happened. Things changed.

We did not hear Jesus’ name as frequently, and often when we did, it was with a casualness sometimes bordering on contempt. Did we become so familiar with the name of Jesus that we lost touch with the truth about who He is and what He did? Did He simply become a household name whose deity was lost in a growing wave of familiarity? Across much of our nation, this appears to be what has happened.

We are not the first to so familiarize ourselves with Jesus that we lose desire, respect and love for Him. The same thing happened to people in the town where Jesus grew up. In fact, the people of Nazareth drove Him out with the intent to kill Him. Some in our nation have tried to drive Him out in much the same way.

Thankfully, Christians are awakening to the truth about Jesus, and seeking revival in their lives and in their communities. I can only imagine how much this pleases God. A boldness is being ignited throughout His Church that will bring a reverent familiarity with Jesus, and a desire to know Him more. Oh, that the Church may cast off the familiar spirit that has blinded us to the greatness of our God! Oh, that we would rebuild the Church and restore the anointing God intended it to have! It is there for us to possess. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth when He sees that our hearts are ready.

Reprinted with permission from Among Friends (Volume Two) Daily Devotional, ©2007 by the Womens Ministries of Canyon Hills Assembly of God, Inc.