Another Good Custom
Scripture Reading — Luke 4:14-22
On the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.
Luke 4:16
It’s already Friday. Are you ready for the weekend? If you’re a pastor or Sunday school teacher, are your lessons prepared?
What does the weekend mean to you? Does it mean working while others play? What are your plans?
Maybe we remember a mother’s admonition: “Just keep Jesus as your example!” Moms and dads and many wristbands ask, “What would Jesus do?”
I know there are things Jesus would (probably) do that I can’t. He could heal the teenager with cancer, while I can only pray and cry with him or her.
Yet Jesus regularly did what many of us can but do not do—he gathered for worship with God’s people. Defending ourselves, we claim we can feel God’s presence in a fishing boat or on the golf links. Like brushing our teeth faithfully, going to church may have been our custom while growing up, but we figure as adults that it wouldn’t do us any harm to skip it.
When Jesus went home to Nazareth, he didn’t skip synagogue because he was divine and had inspired the scroll’s author. He went “as was his custom.” He went as our example. He went, having “the Spirit of the Lord” upon him.
Since we have been given the same Spirit, wouldn’t it be a good custom for us to gather when we can?
Gracious Provider, thank you for places of worship. Help us to worship you faithfully and be good examples to others. We need the empowering of your Spirit. Amen.
About the author — George Vink
Pastor George Vink has served as a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church for more than 30 years in British Columbia, Montana, Michigan, and California. He and his wife, Shirley, have four married sons and nine grandchildren.
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