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Jul 05, 2023 18:30pm

Biggest Fan

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Recently, I saw a mom post a photo of her getting her hair done. While this is a very normal occurrence in our society, the thing that made it so special was the one who was doing her hair. It was her daughter. This young lady was a new graduate of a local hair academy. She had spent her time and money to receive the education and skills needed to be a professional. Sure, it would take time to develop further skills, but in that moment, that mother was doing something incredible.

She believed in her.

She trusted her.

If you’re a woman, you know how serious we are about our hair color. And here was this mom, showing her love and support for her daughter by being the first one in her chair at her new salon.

You may think it’s no big deal. Mommas support their kids all the time. But think about it. Far too often, it’s your family or your closest friends, those who have known you your whole life who are the first to doubt your potential, skills and success.

Luke 4:22-27

“And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son? And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.”

What in earth was happening here? The people looked at Jesus after He had just declared Himself to be the Messiah. They couldn’t believe it. This guy? Isn’t He the son of Joseph? They knew Him. There was no way He was the Messiah. If He was, why hadn’t He done miraculous things for His own people?

Jesus knew their thoughts, He knew their hearts and He responded with “No prophet is accepted in his own country.” He went on to compare these people to the very ones that Elijah and Elisha had prophesied to, and they had ignored them and turned against them. The only ones who would listen and believe were Gentiles.

To a Jew, this was shocking. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Jesus was saying that God wouldn’t always choose to reach the Jew above the Gentile. They were filled with wrath at the man they knew.

“And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”

They had their chance. They could have cheered for Him, believed in Him, supported Him…They had the Messiah right there with them. But they just didn’t realize it, they didn’t want to believe it, and it cost them dearly.

Jesus moved on.

People may react the same to you as a follower of Christ. They may know where you come from, what you’ve done in the past, the old you, and they can’t believe that you are changed now, that you are a Christian. Jesus could have given it up. He could have said, “No, I’d rather be accepted by these people”. But He knew what was right. He knew He had a purpose, a plan, and was sent to do the will of the Father.

We have the opportunity to do the same. Jesus stands before us, waiting for us to believe and accept Him. Waiting for us to choose to follow Him, even if it means being rejected by those closest to us.

We have a choice.

I want to be the first one in the chair. I want to be His biggest fan. I want to share His name with others so that they may believe, too. I want to, do you?