Character assessment – we all do it. Whenever we meet someone we immediately start weighing them up. Do we like them? Can we trust them? Do we want to hear more of what they say?
Sometimes our snap decisions are wrong.
Mark 6:1-6
A prophet without honour
6 Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him.
4 Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few people who were ill and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
How often have you missed something because you have dismissed someone because of their appearance, the way they talk, something you’ve heard about them, or some other feeling that doesn’t give them a chance?
Are we missing hearing the voice of Jesus?
Thank you Lord,
that it’s not who we are,
where we’re from,
who our parents are,
our occupation,
or anything else that matters
– but that we speak of you.
May we allow others to speak
and hear what you are saying to us through them
