NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

THE SECRET OF DISCIPLESHIP (MARK 6:1-6) LENT DAY 35

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “The secret of discipleship” A secret is a fact or information that is known to a person or few people but remains unknown to many people. Discipleship is being called and dedicating one’s life as believer, servant and follower of Christ. The secret of discipleship is a fact or truth known to the disciples of Christ but remains unknown to many people unless they are ready to humble themselves through the hearing and obedience of the Word of God. We shall reflect on the fact that the secret of discipleship is that, it is possible for strangers or foreigners to welcome and accept us as disciples of Christ than our family and friends because of their lack of faith borne out of familiarity and contempt.

Beloved in the Lord, the secret of discipleship is that we may be willing to preach the Gospel to save our family and friends who are lost but because of their lack of faith, familiarity and contempt some may not listen to us. This is what Jesus meant when He said “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” (Mark 6:4) Sometimes we are overlooked by our family and friends because we come from a poor background, we have not achieved anything significant or worthy of value by societal standards such academic and professional qualifications, wealth and positions. Again, we are sometimes overlooked and undermined by people who think they knew us from our childhood or youthful days, hence in their estimation, we have nothing useful to offer them that they do not already know or have seen before. We see this happen to Jesus in His home town when His people said “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 offense at him. (Mark 6:2-3). In other word, the people of Jesus’ hometown would have appreciated Him if He was a foreigner or someone unknown to them. Indeed, anyone who is ready to preach the Gospel to his or own people may face the challenge of “familiarity breeds contempt”. We are to appreciate the secret of discipleship that the very familiar people we may desire to share the Gospel with may be the very people who may reject the message because of familiarity and contempt.

We must be careful as believer not to allow the character or attitude of familiarity and contempt to indwell in us lest we miss the opportunity to experience the glory or presence of God in our lives through the listening and obedience of His Word. God can use anyone to minister to us. It is for this reason Peter said ““I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right”…While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” (Acts 10:34-35,44-46 ) Dear friend, It is possible that the person standing in the pulpit preaching may be your child, junior sibling, a student or a person you have carried in your arms before when he or she was a baby. Again, it is possible that the person preaching to you may be someone coming from a poor family and has no social identity or social status. It is important to note that all these fact are indeed irrelevant when it come to the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of believers. When God called Jeremiah as a prophet, the attitude of familiarity and contempt of the Israelites made Jeremiah say to God,“Alas, Sovereign LORD,” …“I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” ⁷ But the LORD said him, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. ⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. (Jeremiah 1:6-9). We must learn to humble ourselves when we come to the house of God or have the opportunity to listen to the Word of God especially to a close friend or family member. No matter our relationship with the person or level of familiarity with the preacher, he or she represent the mouthpiece of God at that material moment. Some of the people of Jesus’ hometown in Nazareth missed a great opportunity to receive the blessings God had for them through their own brother, nephew and son, Jesus Christ because of their lack of faith borne out of familiarity and contempt. It is for this reason “Jesus could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6:5-6)

A disciple who knows the secret that sometimes family and friends lack faith because of familiarity and contempt must not be discouraged but continue to work for the Lord. Jesus has taught us to move from the location of resistance to a location of acceptance when people demonstrate familiarity, contempt and resistance towards the preacher and the Gospel. After Jesus had been rejected by His town folks, we are told “…Jesus went around teaching from village to village. ⁷ Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. (Mark 6:6-7). In other words, there is no time to waste, we need to keep moving! This is a great encouragement that we are not limited by anyone, including our discouraging family members, congregants and friends when with it comes to preaching the Gospel and operating under the power of the Holy Spirit as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “The secret of discipleship” We have discovered that the secret of discipleship is that, it is possible for strangers or foreigners to welcome and accept us as disciples of Christ than some of our family and friends because of the lack of faith borne out of familiarity and contempt.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus let Your humble nature dwell in us so that we will not be consumed with pride, lack of faith, familiarity and contempt when we have the opportunity to experience the glory of God through the hearing of His Word. Amen.