Luke 4:14-16

“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom.” vs. 16

Sometimes followers of Jesus wish they could teleport back to Galilee and spend a week or two just hanging around him. The record suggests that he spent his days preaching, teaching, and healing, but we’re curious about his habits. Fortunately, given that teleporting hasn’t been perfected yet, Luke does give us a couple of insights as he provides his account of Jesus’ life. First, it seems he started each day with a time of private meditation and prayer. It must have been like a “reporting for duty” moment when the Spirit could offer direction. And then, Luke tells us that it was his custom to go to synagogue on the sabbath day. He was part of a community of faith and this is what his people did weekly and so he did it too. Sometimes he was asked to teach at this public gathering, but at other times we can presume he simply participated in the rituals, and listened to the readings for the day. This was habitual for him, and doubtless his presence was a blessing both to himself and to others. That continues to be the way it is for his followers. Habitual worship connects us to the community of faith better than anything else we do. We don’t have to be entertained or taught anything–it’s purely in the “showing up” that we are blessed!

Thought for the Day: How did worship become a habit for me?