By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
^"Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." (Mark 6:4, NIV)

Observations:
In v.3, the people who heard Jesus took offense at him. I asked myself how Jesus responds to those that took offense at him?

Jesus tells them 3 things:

Interpretations:
I asked myself the significance of Jesus’ statements?
Jesus went from stating the general to stating the specific. Jesus first talked about those in his hometown of Nazareth as a whole. Then, Jesus narrowed it down to his relatives and then his own earthly family. By doing this, Jesus was making a profound statement that He was accepted elsewhere for who He was but not from those that were close to Him.

I asked myself why?
I believe those close to Him had preconceived notions of what Jesus should have been like and could not see past that. They only wanted to believe in the one they had raised and not the One who had come to serve and show them the pathway to Eternal Salvation.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here. Jesus was with honor elsewhere except where He used to reside and live. It is here that people had the hardest time believing. It is here that people took offense at Him. This reminds me of my own life at a certain time in my life.

It was easy for people to accept me as a follower of Christ, who had come from a Hindu background, on the outside where I could present the Gospel and do outreach than my own home. At home, it became difficult to present the Gospel to my beloved dad who is now with Jesus but Jesus made a way for my beloved dad to come to Him on Dec 17, 2007, the day my beloved dad went to be with the Lord. Praise the Lord!  Before my dad gave His life to Christ, my beloved dad had expected me to become someone who is regarded highly by the world from the world’s standard.

However, that is not what I became. I became a counselor and campus minister for awhile and then continued to do ministry while doing jobs by tent-making (jobs on the side to make a living) so ministry could continue.  

Few years ago, my mom asked my dad, “Do you want a son who takes a high paying/ great   job by the world’s standards but is not there for the family and not happy and cheerful in hislife?”

or “Do you want a son who does a job that is not seen as high paying/great job by the world’s standards but is there for the family and always happy and cheerful wanting to help the family out?”

My mom was making a point to my beloved dad that just because someone does not want to go into a high paid profession but into ministry does not mean there life is a waste, etc. The world has preconceived notion of what are professional jobs, real jobs, etc but from the Christian point of view, when we do a job and feel that is the Lord’s calling for us even if it is pointed towards ministry, the Lord will take care of the rest.

It also means there will be obstacles on the pathway from those closest to us as Jesus faced. We need to acknowledge that but it does not mean we should give up.

I ask you now dear friend, when do you feel accepted in life?
Dear friend, if you feel you are only accepted when you do things that other people like, when you live your life the way other people want you to live, when you are only accepted for what others can get out of you, that feeling can be a daunting and stressful feeling.

A lot of people base their identity on being accepted by others. When they are accepted, it is there that they find joy. If they do not feel accepted, then there can be pain and sorrow. The pain can take over the life. You may be the one experiencing this feeling. But, it does not have to be that way.

Friend, Jesus experienced what you are experiencing when you do not feel accepted. When Jesus did all the miracles He did, people flocked to Him and wanted more from Him. But, one day these same people who had also shouted, 'Hosanna' shouted 'Crucify Him, Crucify Him'. They did not accept Jesus but instead accepted a murderer in Barabbas.

But the Good News is even when the people did not accept Jesus, Jesus still accepted to pay the price for their sin on the cross. Jesus did not make His acceptance to go to the cross contingent on what the people did but went to the cross for their sake to deliver them from the bondage of sin. Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross for them and for you and me and came back to life on the third day to save. Jesus loves you so much and you can come to Him as you are. Allow Him to work in your life. Share with Him what you are going through with your family for He understands and will help you.

If you are not accepted by your family because you have become a follower of Christ, it can be very hard. It is hard not being accepted by those close to us when they are the ones we most expect to accept us. You are not alone. Jesus went through so much pain because of rejection but He did not let that get Him down. He had His focus on God and His calling. God will help you too!

Friend, when Jesus has called you to be His very own you need to realize the greatest thing has happened. He has accepted you! Yes, He has friend. No matter who rejects you here on earth because of who you have become in Christ, what job you have decided to do, who you now hang out with, etc, you are never alone anymore.

To all who received Him, He gave them right to become children of God not born of flesh but by the Spirit of God. (John 1:12)

This is exciting to know that you can be accepted and Jesus will help you through your pain. I know He will! It is never for nothing when you come to Jesus and what happens around when you are in Christ.

You may have loved someone so much but then the feeling is not mutual because they see you differently than how you want them to see you. There is pain there too. The pain can sometimes be like a knife of fire. Yet, Jesus sees you friend and sees what you are going through and wants to bring healing in your life.

While I was doing campus ministry, a good friend of mine shared with me the choice she had between her boyfriend she dearly loved and was also intimate with and the new choice facing her life she could accept or reject. It was the choice to follow Jesus Christ as her Lord and Personal Savior. She decided to follow Jesus Christ as her Lord and Personal Savior and what Jesus wanted for her life and not what she wanted.

In other words she shared with me the hardest thing she had to give up after becoming a follower of Christ is her boyfriend who did not want to come to know Jesus as his Lord and Personal Savior. He wanted to remain as he was but she knew after experiencing Christ, she could not go on living the life she lived so she let him go.

Her boyfriend did not accept who she had become and he was the closest to her. She gave him up for Christ no matter how dearly she loved her boyfriend.  She told me the pain is there but as she holds on to Jesus, it is never for nothing.

Friend, not everyone will accept you even when you accept them and love them. There could be different reasons for it whether they are your family or friends. Even Jesus was not accepted by some close to Him and we will face the same.

But what I want you to know is what Jesus says to you, “Be not afraid, just believe”

 Believe in the One who loves you so much.  His name is Jesus! Jesus will accept you and knows what you are going through. Your hearts desires He will give to you as you seek Him diligently. You know many times His desires become our desires as we seek Him.

So, you may have sought someone in your life that you love but it was not returned, so you pray to the Lord that it will happen. If it is the Lord’s desire for you to be with that person, the Lord will make it happen. If it is not then as you continue to seek Him whatever the result is, His desire for you will become your desire.

Through it all, you will feel accepted by the One who loves you so much that He went to the cross for you and died on it. He shed His blood for you and came back to life to save you. He loves you so much friend. Yes, He does!

As you turn to Jesus, you will be loved and accepted in Christ and He will bring everything else into perspective as you find your identity in Christ. Wait on the Lord and He will take care of the rest. Be patient and do not give up!

Waiting can be the hardest thing to do. In this world, people want answers quickly and promptly. They choose a phone call over chat message, a chat message over an email, when they want acceptance of their ideas, their feelings, certain people, etc.

What is the point of being accepted if being accepted compromises our relationship with Jesus!

It is important to know when Jesus accepts you as you accept Jesus into your life to make Him your Lord and Personal Savior then He will give you a new perspective on life. Yes, He will friend. He will bring people into your life that will make you feel accepted and loved. If the love does not come from a family member because of your faith, it will come from above from those the Lord chooses on earth for you.  Yes, it will friend! You can be sure of that. If the love does not come from a friend, because of doubts etc, it will come from above from those the Lord chooses on earth for you!

As I thought about Jesus not being accepted but continued to do what He was called to do, that brings me excitement. First, it tells me that I should not compromise my beliefs in Jesus just to be accepted by others, for Jesus will work in my life. As I take it to prayer, Jesus can also work in the lives of others who have not accepted Him, even in the family. I can say that for sure because I have seen it in my beloved dad's life. For He knows where you are in life and when your life is in the care of the Master, it is never for nothing! It is never for nothing! Amen!

May you rest in the Everlasting Arms of the Savior knowing accepting Christ comforts each person truly everyday daily! Amen!

“Accepting Christ Comforts Each Person Truly Everyday Daily!”(A.C.C.E.P.T.E.D)/”When do you feel accepted in life?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I love you so much. You Oh Lord, know what it feels like not to be accepted by those close to you. Thank you Jesus you understand our pain when it happens to us. We come to you right now and lift up those who are suffering in silence, suffering in pain and agony and even sometimes anguish, because they do not feel accepted by those they want to accept them. Sometimes Lord it is because of their desire to serve you and follow you, it happens. But, I thank you Lord that those who come to you, you never turn away. You will accept them and make them feel loved. You will give them a purpose for their life and whatever their desires are, if they are in line with your will, we thank you that you will let them come to pass. With you Lord, it is never for nothing.  The hardest thing can be to wait on you Lord many times. But we know it is the right thing to do for you promise us those that wait upon you Lord will mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Thank you Jesus! We rest in you Lord for it is not by might, nor by power, but by your Spirit you take care of us and will help us through. I pray for the one right now who wants to reach out to their family members/friends who do not know you but their family member/s/friends do not want to hear from them about you. You alone can make that happen where the opportunity can come and be taken. For you promise to be with us and help us and also we believe our entire household can be saved as we come to you and turn them over to you. Please help Lord. I also pray for the one who is seeking your will for the right person in their lives to be with the rest of their lives. I pray that you will let them know your love and your ways. I pray for the one who is seeking a job and your will for their lives in all they do. We all want your will in our lives but need the strength to rejoice in you when disappointments happen because many times our ways are not your ways but your ways can be so awesome in the long run. It is never for nothing when we turn our life over to you. When we feel it is your will about something, help us to rest in you and wait upon you. Help us to guard our hearts to be focused on you wherever we are, knowing where we place our affections can influence the decisions of our lives. Help us to always place our affections foremost with you Jesus and let all the others fall in place as we love you and put our faith in you. Thank you Jesus! Thank Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! Thank you for dying for our sins and coming back to life to save us. When we come to you, thank you so much Jesus it is never for nothing!  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that we are never out of your love. No matter what is tormenting us, you are there for us. When there are days we cannot get through and loneliness has gotten the best of us because we are isolated in our torment and sin, you are still there. Just as the demon-possessed man saw you, ran to you, and fell before you for healing, we can come to you too. Thank you Jesus! You made yourself available to the man with the evil spirit. Thank you Jesus for making yourself available to us now when we call your Name for we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You Oh Lord know what we have done; you know what we will do. You know what Satan will do to entice us and torment us. We come to you Lord and ask you for your healing presence in our lives. Take any addiction and torment that people face and fill them with your power to live for you. We know you can do it Jesus. Only you have the power to deliver us from any torment and find peace in you. Thank you so much Jesus. We come to you now Jesus and ask you to forgive us of all our sin. Deliver us Oh Lord and cleanse us with your cleansing blood. We believe in you Jesus; we believe you are the Son of God, we believe that you died and rose again; we believe you are here right now standing in our presence with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. Help us Oh Lord as we turn this song “I Believe” into a prayer to you Oh Lord. Thank you so much for coming into our heart and making our heart your home as we ask you in. Take us in Oh Lord and be our Lord and Personal Savior as you lead us and guide us. Help us to help others as you help us! Thank you so much Jesus you are in our heart making our heart your home. Thank you for living in us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!