Scripture:

“He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. ‘We had no idea he was this good!’ they said. ‘How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?’

 

But in the next breath they were cutting him down: ‘He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?’ They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.

 

Jesus told them, ‘A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.’ Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.” Mark 6:1-6 (MSG)

 

Perspective:

When Jesus visited his hometown of Nazareth, people who had grown up with Him had a hard time accepting Him. Everyone was initially impressed with His teaching, but they couldn’t reconcile His authority with His upbringing. They knew His family; they knew Jesus as a carpenter. His neighbors had seen Him build tables and repair homes. He was a tradesman, not a religious teacher. In that moment of basing their understanding of Jesus on their experience, they missed it. The people in Nazareth probably had just as many needs as the people in the other towns, but they experienced less of what Jesus could have done because of their stubborn hearts. Jesus’ ability to heal, restore, and redeem had not changed. His presence had the power to transform situations, but the condition of the peoples’ hearts was not conducive to them receiving miracles. Their stubborn hearts overshadowed their lives with disbelief. So, Jesus healed a few people and moved on. 

 

In our lives, the condition of our heart directly impacts our experience. We can fall into two different categories: doubting God is able or holding on to the miracles of the past.  The people in Nazareth had lived with the Savior in their midst for years, but the close proximity didn’t mandate that they experience God’s miraculous power. They were holding on to who Jesus had been in the past, and they couldn’t accept who Jesus wanted to be to them today. Other times, we allow the reality of our situations to result in doubt instead of faith. The condition of our heart can be dictated by our feelings instead of our faith.  Stubbornness is a posture of the heart that is characterized by a determination to not move. However, a believing heart is the exact opposite in that you choose to believe Jesus before your situation has even changed. So, what is the condition of your heart? We will experience the greatest miracles in our lives when we take God at His Word and believe. Don’t let a stubborn heart cause you to miss the miracle in the middle of your situation. Jesus’ power and willingness to help you has not changed. Open your heart wide to receive all that God wants to work in your life today. 

 

Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

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About Hona Amer

I help people live life to the fullest. Check out my book, Smart Work U. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. In order to receive updates, subscribe below.

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