HOME TOWN MINISTRY
Matthew 9:1-3
"So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.' And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, 'This man blasphemes!' "
Jesus' home town was Nazareth where He was raised. But coming home was not very productive for Him. Although He was called "Jesus of Nazareth," He did not spend much time there. It was at Nazareth that He launched His earthly ministry by claiming to be the promised Messiah of Isaiah 61:1-2), and the people tried to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:29). Even His own brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5). And certainly, the people of Nazareth did not believe in Him. All they could see was that He was the carpenter's son, and they were offended by Him. "He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." It was at Nazareth that Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house" (Matthew 13:54-58). Truly, "He came to His own and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). Why is it so difficult to share the Gospel with family and friends? I just know that it is hard to minister to my family (cousins, aunts and uncles) and people I went to school with. Perhaps it is because they can only associate me with my childhood – the little kid next door. It is comforting to know that Jesus had the same experience. It must have been trying for Him. Still, He kept trying. He did not give up even though He was rejected.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is difficult to minister to people who knew you as a child.
[end]
Have a "trying" day. Love you.
Matthew 9:1-3
"So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.' And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, 'This man blasphemes!' "
Jesus' home town was Nazareth where He was raised. But coming home was not very productive for Him. Although He was called "Jesus of Nazareth," He did not spend much time there. It was at Nazareth that He launched His earthly ministry by claiming to be the promised Messiah of Isaiah 61:1-2), and the people tried to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:29). Even His own brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5). And certainly, the people of Nazareth did not believe in Him. All they could see was that He was the carpenter's son, and they were offended by Him. "He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." It was at Nazareth that Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house" (Matthew 13:54-58). Truly, "He came to His own and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). Why is it so difficult to share the Gospel with family and friends? I just know that it is hard to minister to my family (cousins, aunts and uncles) and people I went to school with. Perhaps it is because they can only associate me with my childhood – the little kid next door. It is comforting to know that Jesus had the same experience. It must have been trying for Him. Still, He kept trying. He did not give up even though He was rejected.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is difficult to minister to people who knew you as a child.
[end]
Have a "trying" day. Love you.
No comments:
Post a Comment