Hometown Mind-Set

[Christ4Ever]

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, "Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?" Then they 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. Mark 6:1-3 NLT

It must have been strange for the people of Nazareth to see Jesus leading His disciples into the synagogue. They might have seen Him in a new light and recognized how they didn’t really know Him as well as they thought. Instead, they dismissed Jesus as “just a carpenter.”

Have you ever dismissed someone as “just” this or that because you thought you knew who they were? The people of Nazareth missed out on opportunities for their sick to be healed and their hearts to be united with God’s because they thought they knew who Jesus was.

Don’t give into the hometown mind-set when someone you know starts acting in new, better ways. Get to know them for real. If nothing else, you’ll encourage them as a dynamic person who is capable of doing better. They might even help you deepen your own relationship with God.

Prayer: Jesus, keep me from making assumptions about people.

 

[watertolive]

Greetings in the Lord

This is why he tells us one, or a prophet, is not excepted in his own land. The people know you...well, who you use to be anyway.

Even if they notice the Light in you, it convicts their own heart of their own sins. So they do their best to seduce you, in some way, and try to pull you back into a dark hole. The devil knows who, or what to use.

Lord, let's us hold fast to the faith. That we may grow up to be like you. Representing our King.

All praise glory and honor be unto God. Amen