The year 2023 gave me some of the greatest lessons. They taught me to let go of my past, but I believe the lesson I learned was No Honor, Still Gifted. While it might seem like a simple phrase, I felt a tug in my heart to title this blog No Honor Still Gifted. Two years ago, I came from an environment where peoples' gifts (singing, preaching ability, etc.) outweighed their value. If your gift was okay, you were not as honored as if your gift shined bright. It left me feeling like I was not enough. I allowed the lies of the people who were close to me to drive my feelings instead of allowing God to speak life to me.
As the year ended in 2023, I was reading the word of God and read Mark 6:1-6. It said, "Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 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 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. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives, and in his own home.” 5 He 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." 1
In Mark 6:2 it says that "...many who heard him were amazed..." 2 People that knew Jesus were amazed at the miracles he performed, but the sense of familiarity interrupted them from their miracle. Reading Mark 6:2 made me wonder why our friends and family members do not support us with our dreams and goals. In Mark 6:2-3 we can see why. Familiarity is a dangerous seed that causes us to view a person from a human perspective and not see them from a spiritual perspective of what God sees in them.
Mark 6:2-3 shows how people were questioning Jesus, and leads them to a lack of faith and dishonor of what God was doing among them. It says in Mark 6:2-3, "...“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." 3
Here we can see that God was doing GREAT things. Jesus was ministering to people for God's kingdom, and while people could see that he was doing great things among them, familiarity seeped in quickly. Consequently, this became a danger because they saw the boy they knew and nothing more.
Have you found yourself in this situation? God has called you to so much more, but your friends, family members, and coworkers do not see it. Friend, you are not alone. Like you, Jesus and many more people have found themselves in that same position. I found myself in a role where people saw me as disqualified, and they pushed me to the point of not believing in myself. They only saw the girl they knew and not what God called that girl to do.
One of my favorite parts in Mark 6:1-6 is Mark 6:4-6 which says, "4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives, and in his own home.” 5 He 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." 4 You might be thinking WAIT that is your favorite bible verse out of ALL of them? Yes, it is because Jesus gave his secret to combating familiarity. He did three simple steps:
One: He Called Out What was Happening
He confronted familiarity and dishonor for what it was. This allowed me to understand that in my walk not everyone will support what God is calling me to do including people close to me. It has also taught me to not fall into the deception of not believing in myself just because others do not believe in me.
Two: He Still Pushed to do What He was Called to do
It says, "... He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and healed them."5 It shows Jesus' devotion to his gift of being a prophet. As I read this portion, I was reminded of two things. First, it reminded me to push through my calling of encouraging women to see themselves the way that God has called them to see themselves. Next, it has shown me the importance of being in environments that see me the way that God sees me.
Three: He Knew Exactly What it was, Lack of Faith
People close to you might not see what God is doing in and through you, but they do not need to only you and God need to know.
Last year, you might have found yourself with people dishonoring you and what God called you to do. I want to encourage you to do the three simple steps that Jesus did when faced with the same problem.
One:
Call out what is happening and confront the problem yourself.
Two:
Continue to use the gifts God has given you in a room of dishonor because it is not for their glory but for God.
Three:
Call lack of faith and remember it is not you, but their lack of faith.
Remember, just because you are not honored does not mean you are not gifted and called. Always remember No Honor, Still Gifted.
PRAYER:
God, I pray for every person who feels dishonored and wants to quit their calling. I pray that they know that people's lack of honor does not change what you believe about them and what you have called them to do. Remind them daily of their calling and the purpose of it all. I also pray that people are more aware of the seed of familiarity and choose to cast that aside and support each other for your kingdom's glory. Amen.
1 Bible gateway passage: Mark 6:1-6 - new international version. Bible Gateway. (2011). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A1-5&version=NIV
2 Bible gateway passage: Mark 6:2 - new international version. Bible Gateway. (2011). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A1-5&version=NIV
3 Bible gateway passage: Mark 6:2-3 - new international version. Bible Gateway. (2011). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A1-5&version=NIV
4 Bible gateway passage: Mark 6:4-6 - new international version. Bible Gateway. (2011). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A1-5&version=NIV
5 Bible gateway passage: Mark 6:5 - new international version. Bible Gateway. (2011). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A1-5&version=NIV