OCU C)HT D Devotion 03
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MATTHEW 13 – REJECTED
“So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:57)
The masses heard the words of the Lord Jesus. They witnessed his miracles; The lame became whole, the blind began to see, and the dead would be raised. How did these hearers respond?
“When they had heard these words, they marveled”…. After all, if you personally witnessed someone perform the inconceivable, what would you do? After they marveled and were amazed, Matthew writes that they “left Him (Jesus) and went their way.”
Sadly, this plays out today as much as it did when Jesus walked the earth. After all, how many times have we heard people claim that if God would only speak to them directly or if they could witness the son of God’s glory, for even a moment, they would believe and follow Jesus?
The reality is that it’s not enough to witness Christ to be converted. No, you must believe to be saved and be “born again.” After all, many witnessed Jesus’s words and ministry to only depart and go back to their lives apart from God. Why, may you ask? The truth is unsettling…because man inherently “loves darkness rather than light.”
CHALLENGE
I’m sure you are familiar with John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But have you done something about it? Will you make Jesus Lord today, or will you do as the masses did and go back to your own way?
“Behold now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
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It really is sad how mankind consistently tends to choose sin over salvation. This is something that my dad and I were talking about earlier this week. People tend to lack commitment to being a Christian. Lukewarm and backslidden Christians are a commodity in our world today. Being a Christian requires us to be ambassadors to our King! Life is full of sinful temptation, but we are called to overcome it. James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him”. The word for “love” in the Greek that James uses is agaposin, a variation of agape. This means an unconditional, undying, selfless love. We need to love our Lord more than anyone or anything else in this world.
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Seem for those who want to just be comfortable and take life easy are those who think they can live without Christ. We as believers also have work to accomplish; live out the verses we speak so dearly about. Why not go out into those grocery stores and just be a light to someone who needs it? Matthew 5:13 states how we are a salt and a light to the world. When the world becomes flavorless(which is not rich in Christ and his love) we are the salt that should add flavor by spreading his Word. We are the light to those in the dark. Those who are either trapped in sin or choose to stay in sin by choice and free will. It is our work to proclaim to those who not only want to hear, but also those who need to hear in God’s time.
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I have often wondered why it seems easier to sin than to follow a righteous path. It is like there is a natural pull towards the path of least resistance, where immediate gratification outweighs the effort of discipline. I realize that the struggle is part of the journey, teaching us resilience and the value of striving for something greater than ourselves. It is a constant combination of temptation and virtue; each step teaches us something new about who we are and aspire to be. Proverbs 14:12 warns that a path may seem right to a person but could ultimately lead to death, highlighting the importance of seeking wisdom beyond one’s own.
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