A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Handcuff Jesus"

He was in His hometown. One would think He would be welcomed and received with open arms. But the account reveals just the opposite.  Where He should have been able to do the grandest miracles Jesus "could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their lack of faith." (Mark 6:5)

Jesus did not lack the ability. He lacked the avenue through which to work. It is an astounding thing that God has chosen believers' faith and obedience as the means though which He does His work. He uses His people to accomplish His purposes. He works through us to fulfill His will.  Hard as it may be to comprehend, we have been given the power to handcuff Jesus or be the means through which He unleashes His power into the world.

The people in Jesus' hometown looked at Him through physical unbelieving eyes. "Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters with us? And they took offence at him." Jesus longed to do great works in their midst. He desired to reveal Himself and the Father to them in marvelous miraculous ways. Instead, He was limited by their unbelief. Their negativity and earthly perspective handcuffed Jesus.

Lest we are too quick to point our accusing finger at His hometown neighbors, how often have we handcuffed Jesus with our lack of faith? We look at the situation with our "realistic eyes" and determine that it can't be done. The task before us is just too big for the resources we have available. We don't have enough people, enough money, enough space, enough talent, and on we go handcuffing Jesus. He is with us and in us ready to accomplish above and beyond what we can ask or even imagine.  Yet, He can "not do any miracles" due to our lack of faith

Can we even imagine what Jesus could do if we would dare to believe He can do the impossible. He stands ready to reveal Himself to the world bringing forgiveness, healing, cleansing, wholeness to a sinful, sick, broken, harassed people, but He needs a believing people to work through. It is not a matter of grandstanding, showing off or bringing attention to ourselves. It is quite the contrary. It brings glory and attention to the Father, revealing Him and accomplishing His purposes.  It is and must be a "God Thing," where even we, the instruments, stand in awe of His handiwork.

Beloved, let us make sure that history does not record that Jesus came to our town and could do no miracles and was amazed at our unbelief.  Rather, let us be a people through which He can work due to our faith and obedience.

Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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