May 15, 2018 - - Luke 4:42-44 God's grace to the overwhelmed

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Luke 4:42-44 ESV

Jesus was perfect in all His ways. He was fully obedient to His Father in heaven. He did not succumb to the pressures of the will of people and what they desired of Him. How much more do we, weak and foolish people as we are, need to learn how to say no to people and things so that we may obey God above all else.

Beware of taking on excessive responsibilities—God will give you enough strength to take on the will of God but

not enough strength to take on what everyone else thinks you should do! There is a simple little word your fallen nature learned as a child and now as an adult under the impulse of grace you need to say: “No!” To say “no” in the Holy Ghost is essential to having physical and emotional health in your later years.

From: A. N. Martin

Father in heaven, in Christ You have brought believers from death to life. We are Yours, bought at the great and precious price of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. By the power of Your Spirit, Who instructs us in the Scripture, help us to offer our minds, bodies, will and actions as instruments for righteousness. We confess, we are often so weary, so overwhelmed by our "to do" lists and the lists of things not done. Spirit of God, move us to speak a firmly gracious "no" to the things which would hinder us from carrying out the will of God. Strengthen us for obedient joy in Jesus' precious Name. Amen.