Luke 4:24 εἶπεν δέ Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς προφήτης δεκτός ἐστιν ἐν τῇ πατρίδι αὐτοῦ
And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
‘No prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.’ Who are the modern day prophets in our world today and what is their message? Do I listen to their message, or do I react with rage and drive them away, as was the case with Jesus? Can I take a moment to be honest with myself and with Jesus now.
Many achieve more among strangers than in their native place. They haven’t to endure any family prejudice against them. Locals often don’t accept one of their own.
The reality of non-acceptance was part of Jesus’ life, from the first moments he was rejected by many. When he left his hometown, some hoped he would come back, or followed after him. Our prayer is a time of following him in the silence and in the personal desires of our hearts.
God, however, is always searching especially for the one who will receive him. Elijah went out of his way to the widow in Sidon. Elisha cured no leper in Israel, but Naaman the Syrian. There needs to be some spiritual opening in a person for God to act in a miraculous way.
The people of Nazareth wanted Jesus to perform miracles in his native place, but Jesus could see no indication that they were worthy to be given such a favour.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be the representative Man of Your new creation. Thank You that He was prepared to come to earth to identify with my sin and die in my place. Thank You that He was willing to pay the death penalty for me (and the sin of the whole world).
Thank You that I am no longer identified with the first Adam but have become a new creation in Christ, by faith, and that in Him I have been reconciled back to God; forgiven of my sins; in-dwelt by the Spirit and received His eternal life.
I pray that I too may live in submission to the Holy Spirit all the days of my life. and be obedient to Your Word so that I may be filled with the Spirit and do only those things that are pleasing in Your sight, this I ask in Jesus name AMEN.