My devotional text this morning was from Luke 24:44-49 and one might say it’s “must-y” Scripture.
Two examples (this is the Common English Bible version):
v. 44: “Jesus said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you–that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (italics mine)
v. 47: “…and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (again, italics mine)
There is urgency here. This text comes at the very end of the gospel of Luke, after the resurrection, and so one might guess that Jesus really wants his followers to listen and heed his words. No more messing around, friends. It’s time to go to work.
I have an evolving (complicated?) relationship with urgency. I used to love passages like this. Yes! Get out there! No time to lose! But I also know that my sense of urgency means that I get ahead of Jesus and it turns into me expecting Jesus to follow me, instead of the other way around. So, lately, I’ve tried to be patient, more mindful of my present circumstances. That shouldn’t dilute the power of these words. I agree that a change of heart and life must be preached. But I also must wait to see where and how Christ wants this to happen.