“Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:4-6 NIV
Earlier this week I posted about rejecting regret. The thought being ‘what if you choose to live a regret free life?’ I have been so blessed, amazed, sad and emboldened by the comments that many have sent me or said to me after this post. I received encouragement to complete the book that I am writing on this subject and then, two comments that have tugged at my heart.
Two very good men that I have the honor of knowing responded to my post with very similar and equally heartbreaking comments.
These good men. These men who lead their families so well, with love, consistency, presence and faith. These good sons, husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, great uncles, brothers, brother/in-laws, cousins and on and on and on. These good men who have been actively involved in their respective churches, communities and professions, that have provided well for their families. These good men who humbly live lives of service and contribution. These good men who grew up in small towns, one in Kentucky and one in Tennessee. These good men with emotion and profound sadness said to me, ‘sometimes it is impossible to leave the regret of childhood mistakes because of those people around me in life who want to make sure that I never forget my past.’ Heart wrenching!
The start of Mark 6 outlines for us the purpose that a future holds, versus the pain of rejection that our past can enslave. When Jesus returned to his hometown, our naive expectation would be that Jesus, the son of Mary (and Joseph, but we know who’s son he was and is), would be welcomed with honor and encouragement. The small town boy of humble parents, made good and deserving of welcoming and congratulation. Rather we learn that he was met with rejection and astounding envy manifested in judgement and outright offense as the Bible tells us. He was rejected not for who he was, rather because of where he came from and his human lineage. His very hometown rejected the Son of the King of Kings because of envy, brokenness and human insecurity. Heartbreaking!
As we read on in Mark 6, we see a purpose driven Jesus move forward. Focused on the mission of his life, not burdened or hamstrung by the ignorance of people from his past. We see Jesus understanding that time and mission were much too important to allow the judgement of broken humans and the judgement of those not qualified to judge, to sidetrack his short years of everlasting impact.
“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT
My conversations and communication with these men was one of encouragement. My recognition of these men is that they are God’s men whose past molded them into the men of God that they each are today. My God assigned role was to tell each of these men that they matter and that they are honorable men, allowed by God to leave the regrets of the past in the trash heap of indignity and limitation that Satan so desires to entrap them. My place in that moment of transparency and confession with each of them was to tell them that I love and admire the men that they are and the brothers in Christ that God has gifted into my life. My role was to encourage.
I will finish with this. Both of these good men specifically discussed their heartbreak and mourning at the reminders and judgement that had been aimed at them through their church. God allowed me to tell them without hesitation that a local church that does not accept, heal, encourage snd empower through scripture and resources, is not worthy of their presence. As Jesus taught us in Mark 7, shake the dust of those limiting your life of God’s plan off and move on. It is not our job to justify who we are in Christ. It is our job to go to the broken and share the good news that is Jesus Christ. We cannot have the impact that we are created to have for the Kingdom of Heaven if we are shackled by the lies of those serving as life speed bumps and roadblocks.
Life is short. Only allow those who empower your journey the privilege of access to your life today. Yesterday we learned. Today we spread and teach the good news of a great, loving and forgiving God.
“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT