These early hours have been weighing heavily on me the last couple of days, Father. Help lift the fog in my mind as we come together this morning. Amen.
Mark 6:1-6 (<<click to read the passage)
If you traveled back to your hometown what would people think of you? Now, of course, part of the equation would be what you were like then and possibly what you are like now. I have a hometown but lived there for a very short period of time, so I really doubt anyone would even remember me.
That would be me but I know of a couple of different guys that went to school with my son. Their reputations were not stellar, spiritually speaking, then but I know of both of them now and they are fine upstanding men whom the Lord has gotten ahold of and they are both being used of God in a mighty way!
Now I don’t know what kind of reception they would receive if they returned to this area and tried to share their faith. some would be skeptical but I’m sure some would be moved by who they were then and who they are now.
In today’s passage, Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth. When He began teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath many were amazed! They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” v2b
Then instead of embracing who He was and what He was doing they did an about-face and scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. v3
Now it was Jesus’ turn to be amazed! They were so adamant in their unbelief that “he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” v5
Because they couldn’t get beyond their personal mindsets, they put a stop to the amazing things Jesus could have done amongst them.
Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds so that we do not allow preconceived notions about You – or Your followers, for that matter – to inhibit us from being impacted by Your work in our lives. You are willing and much more than able to do great things amongst us – amazing things! – if we are open to You!
Mar 19th, 2019, Tues, 10:56 am
