Read Matthew 13:53-58
Key Verse “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:58
This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. It is the account of Jesus going to His hometown to teach. When people heard Him, they were astonished. However, their astonishment did not lead them to respond to His teaching in obedience and faith. They knew Jesus as the little boy of the carpenter who grew up in their midst. They marveled at his teaching and wondered what university he went to in order to gather such learning. But, that is where their walk with Jesus ended.
Had they opened their hearts to the true nature of Jesus their lives would have been radically changed for the better. Their families would have been all the better for it. God was in their midst for so many years but they did not believe he could do anything. They were like so many today, finding reasons why Jesus couldn't do something great. To them, he was just a man, perhaps a sage, maybe a prophet. Today, we approach God in a similar way. Does God still do miracles today? Can he heal my pain? Can he transform my life? We know Jesus, but the world we live in says miracles don't happen today. You only get out of life what you can do for yourself. Self-reliance, self-effort, self self self. But Jesus says "trust me". He says "believe in me". Pray to me and let me decide what will happen.
Nothing much happened in the people or the town of Nazareth. Why? The Scripture gives the reason, “Because of their unbelief.” Unbelief shuts the door on the transformational power of Jesus. Faith opens the floodgates to that same transformational power. In contrast to this passage of Scripture are countless others where Jesus worked miracles in response to the faith present in the lives of people. (Read Matthew 9:2; 9:22; 15:28; Mark 10:52; Luke 8:48) When Jesus looks at your life what does He find? An attitude of faith? or unbelief?
Do you believe Jesus can change your life? Do you believe he can do a miracle in you? Do you believe he can change the hearts of your children, family, friends? Do you believe he wants his Gospel to reach the ends of the world? Do you believe that Jesus can work through you in marvelous and awesome ways? Make a list of what you want Jesus to do for you, in your life. Then begin praying for it...ask Jesus to reveal himself to you in your prayer. Ask God to strengthen your faith in Him. (Mark 9:24)
Do you have doubts? Lift them up to God in Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me in my unbelief. Reveal yourself to me over these next few weeks and strengthen me. I know you can all things, begin by filling me with your Spirit. Change my heart, grow my church, encourage me, heal me. I want to know you and the power of your resurrection. Work in my life to that end.
Key Verse “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:58
This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. It is the account of Jesus going to His hometown to teach. When people heard Him, they were astonished. However, their astonishment did not lead them to respond to His teaching in obedience and faith. They knew Jesus as the little boy of the carpenter who grew up in their midst. They marveled at his teaching and wondered what university he went to in order to gather such learning. But, that is where their walk with Jesus ended.
Had they opened their hearts to the true nature of Jesus their lives would have been radically changed for the better. Their families would have been all the better for it. God was in their midst for so many years but they did not believe he could do anything. They were like so many today, finding reasons why Jesus couldn't do something great. To them, he was just a man, perhaps a sage, maybe a prophet. Today, we approach God in a similar way. Does God still do miracles today? Can he heal my pain? Can he transform my life? We know Jesus, but the world we live in says miracles don't happen today. You only get out of life what you can do for yourself. Self-reliance, self-effort, self self self. But Jesus says "trust me". He says "believe in me". Pray to me and let me decide what will happen.
Nothing much happened in the people or the town of Nazareth. Why? The Scripture gives the reason, “Because of their unbelief.” Unbelief shuts the door on the transformational power of Jesus. Faith opens the floodgates to that same transformational power. In contrast to this passage of Scripture are countless others where Jesus worked miracles in response to the faith present in the lives of people. (Read Matthew 9:2; 9:22; 15:28; Mark 10:52; Luke 8:48) When Jesus looks at your life what does He find? An attitude of faith? or unbelief?
Do you believe Jesus can change your life? Do you believe he can do a miracle in you? Do you believe he can change the hearts of your children, family, friends? Do you believe he wants his Gospel to reach the ends of the world? Do you believe that Jesus can work through you in marvelous and awesome ways? Make a list of what you want Jesus to do for you, in your life. Then begin praying for it...ask Jesus to reveal himself to you in your prayer. Ask God to strengthen your faith in Him. (Mark 9:24)
Do you have doubts? Lift them up to God in Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me in my unbelief. Reveal yourself to me over these next few weeks and strengthen me. I know you can all things, begin by filling me with your Spirit. Change my heart, grow my church, encourage me, heal me. I want to know you and the power of your resurrection. Work in my life to that end.
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