Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” – Mark 6:4 (MSG)
Jesus had been all over the region
performing miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons and relieving the
demon-possessed, yet in Nazareth, His own hometown, He could do nothing. His
own people could not benefit from His powerful ministry because they refused to
believe that He was the promised Messiah. As a matter of fact, Mark 3:21 tells
us that Jesus’ family thought He was crazy, saying of Him, “He is out of his mind.” (ESV).
Can any of you relate?
Your spiritual journey can be a lonesome road. You’d imagine that your family would be your biggest supporters, they’d be your most zealous cheerleaders and encouragers but surprisingly it is those that are closest to you that turn out to be your most ardent critics.
If there are people who do not believe in
you, then you can be sure they are family members, friends and neighbours.
Strangers will respond to you more readily than your own brothers, sisters,
parents and other relatives – they’ll quickly see your spiritual calling and
respect it but not those loved ones.
When someone came to Jesus to let Him know
that His mother and brothers were outside wanting to speak to Him, Jesus asked,
“Who are My
mother and My brothers?” After which, pointing to the circle of
people seated around Him He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.” (see Mark 3:33-35).
You see, your loved ones know you only in
the flesh, so it is difficult for them to view you any other way.
“Who is this new person; this Bible
studying Word processor? Isn’t she so-and-so’s daughter? Where’d she suddenly
get all this spiritual talk from; all this wisdom and understanding?”
That’s exactly what was said about Jesus in
His hometown.
Everything that you may be subjected to on
your spiritual journey, Jesus went through. Jesus lived it and even at the
height of His ministry, His relatives and neighbours completely ignored Him and
cut Him down verbally. The saying “Familiarity breeds contempt”, is never more
apparent than when a person is called into ministry by God.
For instance, look at David; not one of his
brothers, or his father, believed that God had a great purpose for him to
fulfill. In their eyes David was the least likely. He was the youngest, only
good for tending sheep, ruddy and scrawny at best.
Not even the venerated prophet Samuel, who
God sent to anoint Israel’s future king, could ever imagine that this whisper
of a boy was God’s choice. So flabbergasted was Sanuel that God had to tell
him, “the Lord does not see as
man sees” (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV).
Moses, at 80 years old, still hiding out in
Midian, a shadow of the man that he once was, now stammering and unsure of
himself, was God’s choice (Exodus 3).
Gideon did not believe in himself, but God
believed in him. God knew the person He’d created and chose Gideon and his army
of a mere three hundred men to defeat a multitude (Judges 6:11-24 & 7:2).
So you see, it doesn’t matter whether the
people you’re in this life with recognize you as God’s chosen vessel or not,
all that really matters is that God has chosen you and you recognize yourself
as such.
Your job is to listen to God and not the
endless chatter of those surrounding you.
You must do what God has called you to do,
despite what your family, friends, neighbours or relations say or think or
believe.
God knows you in spirit and only those that
have been given eyes to see will see, others may never understand your calling.
“For whoever does
the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” – Matthew 12:50 (ESV)
Obedience is thicker than blood.
Apostle Paul, in Galatians 1:10, encourages
us to please God and not give into the pressure of men to do otherwise. To the
congregation at Galatia he wrote,
“If I were still
trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (ESV)
Similarly, Solomon in his God-given wisdom,
tells us that “The
fear of man brings a snare, but whosoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be
lifted up.” (Proverbs 29:25 JUB).
Beloved, if God has called you, then trust
Him, you will be safe. The sting may be hurtful but do not stray from what you’ve
been called to do and who you’ve been called to be.
There will be “noise”, expect it.
There will be persecution in varying forms,
expect that too.
Expect the jeers, the taunts, the demands
and commands, the hissy fits, expect the mockery, the spewing of Scripture
verses taken out of context in an attempt to prove you wrong.
Expect it all!
Every single person who’s called to the
purpose of God has had to endure the same. Jesus Christ was not exempted, He
endured the worst, so consider yourself in excellent company.
The psalmist wrote,
“You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on
the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow His directions, doing
your best to find Him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk
straight along the road He set.” – Psalm 119:1-3 (MSG)
I pray that Almighty God will give you the wherewithal
to endure the lonesome road, and that you will not be distracted from His call
upon your life, that you will remain steadfast and when you’re feeling weak and
defeated you will garner strength from Him, remembering always, that when you
are weak He is strong. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen †
Shelley
Johnson “A Lonesome Road” © 2017 revisited August 30, 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment