Inviting Jesus to fulfill our deepest longings (5th lesson from Luke)

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM STEPHANIE:

I want to share a special invitation with you. You may have heard that I will be releasing my first book with IVP on July 28, 2026. It’s a big deal and I am so overwhelmed with God’ goodness in allowing me to share such an essential message about delighting in Him as the true essential foundation for all our spiritual growth and maturing. Truly, when we delight in the Lord, He promises to give us the desires of our hearts – namely, more of Himself!

So, here's the invitation. If you feel this message is indeed important, and you know people – including yourself perhaps – who need to be encouraged to awaken and cultivate their delight in God, would you consider joining my book launch team? It’s a great and super easy way to share the good news of God's love for us in Christ, Jesus, our Lord.

**If you’re interested, please go to gospelspice.com/awakendelight and find the section about joining the launch team, or email me at [email protected] **

Together, let’s encourage everyone we know with the wonderful news that, in Christ, God delights in us and invites us to delight in Him!

This episode offers Part 2 of our exploration of the gospel of Luke through the lens of the question that John the Baptist asked Jesus in Luke 7:19: “Are you the one, or should we look for someone else?”

(Make sure to have listened to Episode 427 before tuning in to this one).

Today, we’re asking this question of ourselves, our own lives, and our own hearts: Is Jesus truly the One our hearts desire?

This begs a second question: if, as Christians, we’ve answered yes, then does our life reflect our stated priority?

So, we examine the evidence of Jesus’ identity through:

·         Scripture: A thorough study of Luke’s firsthand accounts and prophecies.

·         Lives of Others: Observing faith’s impact in people around us.

·         Personal Reflection: Identifying if we’re filling the “God-shaped hole” with substitutes.

·         Asking God Directly: Inviting honest, personal encounter.

Luke’s narrative highlights three responses to Jesus, which inform our own possible response:

·         Unbelief (Nazareth): Viewing Jesus as a lunatic.

·         Rejection (Pharisees): Accusing Jesus of deception—a liar.

·         Faith (The woman who anoints Jesus): Trusting Jesus as Lord.

So, which will it be for you and me? The choice is ours – for salvation, but also throughout our lives. We get to choose to follow Jesus every single day.

Through Luke, we are issued a challenge: Seek Jesus, not just as a distant historical figure, but as the One who knows us fully and loves us perfectly. The journey is ongoing—keep pursuing deeper relationship, letting Him fill what only He can.

Reflection:
Who is Jesus to you? Lunatic, liar, or Lord? The answer shapes your identity, faith, and future. The invitation is to make Him your One—day after day, every day.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

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