Hi there
A friend once shared an agnostic’s take on persecution – if Jesus was persecuted, so can us humans. Today’s Holy Nougat must have been his inspiration
“And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”” Matthew 13:57 NLT
While we do not all ascribe to stardom, most of us would rather be recognized for the work that we do. There are those who would even defend such aspirations as ambition.
And yet, instead of affirmation, Jesus was faced with opposition from His own. In Jamaica many would caution, ‘di good yuh do, di thanks yuh get’. And in some places we would even encourage the person who was ‘dissed’ to withhold sharing our talents and gifts with ingrates. Rightly or wrongly so, that is the reality for most of us.
I hasten to remind myself, and you others by extension, that Jesus Himself was dissed by His own. Maybe that was behind His encouragement to consider ourselves blessed when we are dissed. (Disclaimer alert … I’m not yet at the point where I feel blessed when dissed)
Are we open to seeing God’s grace in the rough moments – when we’re forsaken, frustrated, or filled with foment from being dissed?
Lord, help us find strength to overcome the hurt by Your power.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
