A lack of faith

I am going to be very brutally honest. The toughest part about my walk as a believer has been a lack of faith from some of those who are closest to me....

I haven't always been on fire for Christ. The desire, and willingness to grow didn't happen until my junior year of college. My priorities up to the point in my life weren't the worst, but God was never first and that showed through some of my actions. When I knew that I was committing these sins I felt bad every time but still continued to do it. The closest people around me knew this too because they were around me and knew almost everything about me.

They knew about the decisions I was making but didn't know how I felt in my heart before, in-between, and after. I struggled to share that because it was such a deep feeling.

When God really started to change my heart and my priorities began to change, I knew that I was done with that old self. I wanted nothing to do with it.

What I struggled with was that the closest people to me, still saw me for my old self...Then when I would get made fun of, or those old times would get brought up I was sick to my stomach. I couldn't handle it. I would totally take myself out of the situation when things like that were happening. It was some of the most helpless situations I had ever found myself in...

The most interesting thing to me was that others (who I wasn't as close to) would perceive me as who I was...not who I had been.

When this was all happening was about the time I started writing my blog and posting it all over my social media. I didn't start a blog to make me look good, I started to to encourage others that the key to fulfillment is simply getting in the word on a consistent basis because that is what I did and it worked.

Getting in the word changed everything about me and people who I wasn't as close to saw that, while those closest never did. I never really understood this because one of the things that really mattered to me was wanting my closest friends to know that I had changed.

This was always hard for me until I read the first couple verses of Mark chapter 6.

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciplines. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed."Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's the wisdom that has been given him? What are are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and and the brother James, Jospeh, Judaisms, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 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 6:1-6)

The people from Nazareth, Jesus's hometown, had a lack of faith.

Jesus could have done greater miracles in Nazareth, but he choose not to because of the people's pride and unbelief. The miracles that he did had little effect on the people because they did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Therefore, Jesus looked elsewhere, seeking those who would respond to his miracles and message.

Jesus said that a worker for God is never really honored in his hometown...or by the people closet to him. But that should never make our work any less important. A person doesn't need to be respected or honored to be useful to God. If friends, neighbors, or family don't respect your Christian work, don't ever let their rejection keep your from serving God.

What exactly was the purpose of this post?

To encourage you that it's okay if the people closest to you don't see the change in your heart. We shouldn't expect them to because they are close to us. It's also extremely important to understand that we are all made new. When God really changes someone's heart, we need to celebrate that and not just remember who they used to be and the decisions that they used to make.

Most importantly, your work is significant no matter who you are around. It's significant because it's the work of the Holy Spirit and the Lord changing your heart.

It's just like the last couple posts I have written. Tell your stories about how the Lord is been merciful to you to everyone...