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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Luke 4:14, Jesus returns from this testing time in the wilderness. He emerges victorious, but the struggle had been real and the battle fierce. We should not be overly surprised when we are confronted with similar situations. This is why we need the Word of God – to teach us what to expect and to provide us with the weaponry necessary to overcome.
Here comes JESUS! He returns north to Nazareth and Galilee. As he taught, the news spread. The word soon got around.
As HIS CUSTOM WAS, on the SABBATH, Jesus Christ was at worship in the locally synagogue. We know the church of that day was full of faults and hypocrisy. It was dry, empty, and powerless. Jesus did not use that as an excuse to stay away.
He was going to be with all the others. He was setting the example – praising, worshipping, and reading the Scriptures. Do I have to go to Church to be a Christian? NO. But if you are a disciple of Jesus, you will be with all the others when they gather for Worship and Fellowship.
Settle that one today. Will I go - won’t I go? Some people spend years wrestling with this one, when it can be dealt with in a few minutes. Then we are ready to face the issues which are really important. Some people battle with this for years. It can be like pushing a wheelbarrow that has no wheel!
Friends arrive - family comes – what are we to do - invite them. They need to see that being at worship is important to you. They need to see your testimony and witness. If you were going to a Wedding or Funeral? - or Garden Party? – or golf - bowls - bridge - football – would you suddenly decide to stay at home if someone called and visited - but Worship? – that is different!
It is so interesting to see how people react. Being present at worship wherever possible is an indicator and measure of our commitment – and of the reality of our discipleship.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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