In My Hometown

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” Mark 6:4

The tendency in our culture has not changed much from when Jesus walked this earth. He was honored and praised in every town he visited - with the exception of his own hometown, with his own family.

Brent and I recently did a devotion on this passage. My thinking is sometimes it is hardest for the people closest to you (family) to think of you changing. They only knew Jesus as a brother, a carpenter, a son, a teenager in the village, and so on. When it was revealed that he was actually their Lord and Savior ... they are like, "...what? Are you SURE?"

They can't picture him being anything more than what they already know.

Isn't that usually what happens to people now? When people who live immoral lives change their ways, people struggle to believe it. We think there's no way THAT person is living a changed life.

Fortunately for me, my 'hometown' is much different. I spent a great deal of time changing, and I know my sisters and parents have both respected those changes and encouraged them. I send multiple emails each week asking them for support, advice, suggestions, and encouragement.

This could very well be a "girl" thing, and that is fine with me. I love the relationship I have with them. I love that I can ask them anything, and they offer Godly wisdom from very different perspectives.

I love that I still feel honored in my own hometown - even with the people that know me best (and therefore know all of my flaws, mistakes, and faults).