“When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to his hometown, and gave a lecture in the meetinghouse. He stole the show, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise, get such ability?” But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. We know his mother, Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and Judas. All his sisters live here. Who does he think he is?” They got all bent out of shape. But Jesus said, “A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his family.” He didn’t do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference.” (Matthew 13:53-58 The Message Bible)
After the rejection in Nazareth, after being the subject of hostile indifference, Jesus did not abandon His intent to bless others. If you check Matthew’s gospel, you will find that Jesus just redirected His blessings. There is the report of Him feeding the five thousand plus in the very next chapter. Multitudes were blessed by Jesus’ redirected blessings. Still, in the very next chapter, Jesus walks on water and His presence comes the wind. Jesus redirected His blessing. Oh, no one can tell you how many times Jesus redirected His blessings. John even wrote in His Gospel, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.” Many rejected Him, but to those who believed, Jesus gave them the blessing of eternal life. Jesus redirected His blessings all the way to the cross where He died for you and me. (You know I must preach the cross, don’t you?)
Now, let’s get to you and I. There are various reasons why we might have to redirect our blessings. Yes, there is rejection, but there are also other circumstances that keep us from doing what we intended and/or desired to do. There is a point where we have something to share, but it is not yet our turn to preach. Well, teach! Redirect your blessing! Share with others! You may attend a church where they come up with a guideline that will not let you join the one choir they have because you are “too young.” Well redirect your blessing and sing from the top of your lungs from the pews. You may be going door-to door witnessing, and one house rejects you. Well, shake the dust off your feet, and quickly redirect your blessing and go to the next house, and the one after that house. You may volunteer to contribute to a church project with a financial gift, but you are informed that the project goal has been met. Well, redirect your blessing and give to some other facet of the ministry to help advance the kingdom of God. Your physical health may restrict your travel. Well, redirect your blessing and bless the place you were going to visit.
In regard to that last example, that’s exactly what I am going to do. I had a planned visit, but for a variety of health-related reasons I delayed my plans. I wanted to be a blessing by visiting, but wisdom paid me a visit and prevailed. I postponed my travel plans. The money set aside for the trip, better stated, the monetary blessing set aside was still in my bank account. So, I decided to redirect my blessing, and help the person I was going to visit financially, knowing that the blessing would bless the family. As a side note, I knew I could be used by God to fulfil the expression of faith by the person I was going to visit, “I can trust God and He will make a way somehow.”
For one reason or the other, you will have the opportunity to redirect your blessing. When you do, being unselfish, and being under the label of being Jesus’ disciple, redirect your blessing in such a way that you help the kingdom and prove that the Christ lives in you. Let me close today with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to reinforce that we need to proactively find a way to redirect our blessings in a positive way. I think the quote will eliminate excuses and encourage us to redirect our blessings. Have a great day! Be blessed!
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Mark L. King