The Appointed Time

The Appointed Time

When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:16-21

In my practice, the appointment book is full every single day. But my staff always finds a way to squeeze in someone who is acutely ill. Often it means I’ll be a few minutes late to the rest of my appointments. But acute illness is always a priority, regardless of the schedule. Typically, I feel as if I’m doing a good job if my schedule is off by only ten or fifteen minutes. But I can feel the tension rising in the waiting room on days when I’m further behind.

We all have appointments to keep, and we try to take these predetermined meetings seriously. We show up on time, and we come prepared. But there are days when the oil change appointment takes longer than expected and we’re late getting home for the cable guy. We can’t always predict how things will go.

When Jesus arrived at the synagogue in Nazareth, he was keeping an appointment that had been on the books for hundreds of years. Before Isaiah’s words were ever written, God knew the exact moment when his Son would announce to the people of his hometown that he was the Messiah.

And just as Jesus had an appointed time at the synagogue, so we all have an appointed time when we will meet him face-to-face. He won’t have to squeeze us in, and no one will be fifteen minutes late.

TODAY’S RX

Live your life prepared for the most important appointment you’ll ever have.

Jesus, thank you for coming to this earth and sharing your ministry. I look forward to the day when I can walk with you and talk with you and be part of your visible Kingdom.