Smokescreens
Opening Prayer
Jesus, help me to recognize You, to hear when You speak in the common as well as the spectacular.
Read Matthew 13:53-58
[53] When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. [54] Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. [55] “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? [56] Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” [57] And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” [58] And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.
Closing prayer
Lord, You came in humility, and it required humility to accept You. Help us find You where You are, Lord.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.