LIGHT FOR THE SLIGHTED

“At these words the whole audience in the synagogue was filled with indignation.” —Luke 4:28

When the Lord does something for someone but not for you, do you compare yourself with the other person and feel slighted by God? Jesus told His hometown folk that, although many Jewish widows needed financial help during a three-and-a-half year famine brought on by the prophet Elijah, none of the Jewish widows were helped. Instead, a foreign widow received Elijah’s aid (Lk 4:25-26). Moreover, Israel had many lepers in Elisha’s day, but none of them was healed. God, however, healed the foreigner, Naaman (Lk 4:27).

Jesus unfavorably compared His people with foreigners, not to make them feel inferior or slighted, but to call them to repentance. They refused His call and tried to throw Him over a cliff (Lk 4:29-30). When we feel slighted, we are going to try to throw over a cliff either Jesus or our selfish, prideful sinfulness. Let’s be like Naaman and throw away our pride, repent, and humbly obey the Lord (see 2 Kgs 5:11ff).

Thank God when others are being blessed in ways that you’re not, or being healed when you’re not. Thank God that others are getting much more of God’s attention. This is a call for you to repent (see Mk 6:12).

Prayer: Father, remove pride from my heart, no matter if You seem to have slighted me.

Promise: “His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” —2 Kgs 5:14

Praise: Tom has risen early each morning for nearly fifty years to study the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).