Honor Your Prophets

ALL – Psalm 18:16-36
ALL – Proverbs 4:7-10
OT – Genesis 42:18-43:34
NT – Matthew 13:47-14:12

Familiarity breeds contempt, right? It certainly did for Jesus:

When Jesus had finished giving these illustrations, he returned to his hometown, Nazareth in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue and astonished everyone with his wisdom and his miracles.

“How is this possible?” the people exclaimed. “He’s just a carpenter’s son, and we know Mary his mother and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. And his sisters—they all live here. How can he be so great?” And they became angry with him.

Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own country, and among his own people.” – Matthew 13:53-57, The Living Bible

How often in our churches across the country do we look at the elders who have matured within our churches as second-class elders, but look at those who matured in other communities with special respect? We often hire pastors we don’t know (yes, I’m included), and set them in positions of authority and honor above men older, wiser, godlier, and more mature than they are. Even as Christians, we often perceive those from our own communities as “common” and those from outside as “special.”

As one of these outsider-pastors, I’d like to take a moment to urge Christians across the country and across the world to honor their home-town elders. These men are just as wonderful and godly and honorable as the men like me who are brought in from outside your communities to serve Christ. Some of you honor such men more than outsiders, because you’ve seen Christ grow and transform them over the years, and you know His hand is on them. But some of you honor such men less than outsiders because you feel familiar with them and, like the town of Nazareth, you’re offended that someone you know so well would be honored so highly. As Christians, let’s stop taking offense at our elders who serve Jesus Christ so faithfully. Instead, let’s be encouraged that Jesus Christ can take people just like us and turn us into His useful, honorable prophets. Let’s respect our home-grown church leaders.

Describe one of your home-town church leaders, someone you admire, respect and trust.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.