Luke 4:25-27 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
The Book of Luke stresses the universal appeal of the gospel. In both of the Old Testament stories referenced in the above passage, God sent a prophet to perform a miracle for foreigners (Gentiles). Such an emphasis scandalized the Jews, who saw themselves as God’s uniquely chosen people. Jesus’ words proved so inflammatory that a mob attempted to kill him. As far as is known, Jesus never returned to his home territory of Nazareth.
Romans 8:1-2 reminds us that “… there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
God’s gift of salvation isn’t just for a select few; it is for anyone and everyone that is willing to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday.
In Him,
Gary Truex and family