FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT?

I have a lot of friends who commend me for what I am doing - for sharing my insights and the message God wants to give through me. In fact, I have readers from other parts of the world who like reading my blogs.

It is easy to preach in turfs other than your own. Some people would come to me and ask my opinion on something. Some openly say I inspire them. I can see them in the way my babies appear to have a love for the Lord, young as they are.

The hardest place to preach is in your own home. I have mentioned that time and again. It is because they see you at your worst - they see all your flaws and faults and it is very hard to separate that from the you they know. Especially when there is dispute or anger in the house, it always come in the surface. Your loved ones will hold you in contempt and mock you for trying to proclaim God's Word when you fail their expectations in everyday situations.

When we are trying to walk the walk of faith, that does not mean we become perfect beings. No, sir. there is no one perfect other than God. We are human beings -- prone to make mistakes, fall and sin. But given all these weaknesses, what we who have faith have that others don't have is hope. Hope that God loves us enough to offer propitiation for our sins; that when we sincerely ask for forgiveness, we are pardoned; that God does not count the many times we fall but the number of times we rose up and start all over again.

Sometimes, I get discouraged when I hear the negative comments --1. I could never be a preacher. I am not and I don't intend to be unless that is what God has in mind for me.           2. I am a big fake! I am good and nice at the people in the church and even strangers but I yell and get mad in the house. Naturally! Those people treat me right everytime and do not get mad at me so why would I yell at them? 3. I can tolerate  other kids who act out just like our own.  Other's kids do not run their mouth nor back -talk; they do not disrespect me every chance they got.

God uses those who are not qualified but have a deep hunger to know Him. I am just another sinner who acknowledge all my flaws and try to walk the narrow path. I may fall every now and then but  my God does not look at me with contempt. Rather, He understands and forgive when I ask forgiveness for my sins. I am not an authority on the bible but I am glad that God is using me to give His message through me. Every trial that comes my way teaches me a lesson, and now I understand that those trials were meant to be shared when needed so others could be inspired and help them come to Jesus.

Today's reading is about a hometown boy who was rejected by His very people. They were so happy to see Him and hear Him speak because they heard the many miracles He has performed in another town. When the people heard Jesus read the scroll of the prophesy of the Prophet Isaiah, they were all excited. They want Jesus to prove Himself to them and perform miracles in His hometown; not because they want to believe, but so that they can satisfy their  curiosity. Jesus knows what is in their hearts so He refused.  They see Jesus the Magician, not Jesus the Redeemer.

The Jewish people were all excited and fired up about Jesus until some of them recognized Him and said "isn't this man Jesus from Nazareth?" It all went downhill from there, resulting in Him being mobbed and  people plotting to throw him off the cliff. 

As I was driving from my house to the church, I asked Jesus to reveal to me the answer. Why did the crowd changed from excited to angry with Jesus? Why couldn't they see the Messiah right in front of their very eyes when they have been waiting for Him for so long? He answered me with "it's the Holy Spirit." They could not see the Spirit of God because their minds are closed. They chose to look down instead of up. 

A prophet is not honored in his hometown. It is very hard to preach in your own home. I guess familiarity breeds contempt after all.

"Father in heaven, You are always there for me. Thank you for the many blessings you bestow on me. I pray that others would see  You as I do -  a mighty, forgiving, loving  and a faithful  God."

Meditation: Luke 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said, “Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

--that in all things God may be glorified