Pray:
Jesus, help me to recognize You, to hear when You speak in the common as well as the spectacular.
Read:
Matthew 13:53-58
Reflect:
Would an observer think that you believe in unseen realities?
Jesus has finished teaching his series of parables on the kingdom of heaven and has moved on to his hometown, Nazareth (Matt. 2:23). He begins to teach in the synagogue--and look at the reception he receives (54-56)! We can be sure that the news of his amazing miracles has reached the place where he grew up. Yet the people, who think they know him so well, are unable to recognize him for who he really is (55). Are they perhaps creating smokescreens so that they don't need to make a personal decision about Jesus?
Tell people there are billions of stars in the universe, and they'll believe you. But tell them that the bench they are about to sit on has wet paint, and what will they do? They need to prove it because of their lack of faith.
Do we do the same with God? We claim to believe he's the almighty Creator, but then we expect him to do things our way. When we don't understand what he's doing, we create smokescreens. Because we don't understand, we don't believe. God gives us a choice: belief or unbelief. See the effect the congregation's unbelief had on Jesus (58).
Apply:
Ask God to remove any smokescreen you have created that is stopping him from working in your life.
Pray:
Lord, You came in humility, and it required humility to accept You. Help us find You where You are, Lord.
