May 16, 2016

DON'T BE DERAILED

Mark 6:1–6

Camille Walker
Monday's Devo

May 16, 2016

Monday's Devo

May 16, 2016

Central Truth

Haters gonna hate, but we can learn from JChrist (and TSwift) that our response need only to be faithfulness—and to “shake it off.”

Key Verse | Mark 6:6

And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. (Mark 6:6)

Mark 6:1–6

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

Dive Deeper | Mark 6:1–6

Society is predicated on ontological engineering, that is the ability to name phenomena and define how those things relate to each other so that we can effectively communicate and define reality. The problem arises when I let labels serve as a gauge of my relationship to the Lord. My first semester of law school was rough. The moment before I opened my grades, I was certain that I was a faithful steward of my time and talents. But as soon as I saw that C only a moment later, I was certain that I was a sluggard, foolish, and unwise. The only thing that changed from one moment to the next was what someone said about me and how someone labeled my work. We all have heard the advice “let it roll off like water off a duck’s back” and more recently “shake it off.” But why and how?

In the midst of scoffers, antagonists, and even bringing His momma into it, Jesus kept teaching—kept being faithful. When the scoffer called Jesus the “son of Mary” (verse 3), he was saying what everyone was thinking: that Jesus was the illegitimate son of Mary. But that didn’t make it true. Jesus “went about among the villages teaching” (verse 6) because that is what faithfulness required. There are so many times I don’t want to speak up because people say I’m too young or don’t want to be strong because people say I’m a victim. But labels don’t define our relationship to the Lord any more than a doubter can call Jesus an illegitimate son.

Proverbs 9:8 says scoffers will hate you, or in modern lingo: haters gonna hate. Haters are going to be around as long as we speak truth, but what people think about you, say to you, or feel about you doesn’t make it truth. The most important thing is to continue to walk in faithfulness and “shake it off” like TSwift says and like JChrist did.

Discussion Questions

1. What would be your reception in your hometown if you shared what you’re learning in the Bible? Think about what that could look like and ask yourself if you would take advantage of the opportunity or if you would avoid it.

2. Growing up, did you go along to get along, or did you make an impact? How about yesterday?

3. If a person were to respond negatively to you, what response could “derail” you? If there are lies you believe about yourself, check out Blake Holmes’ sermon on the Watermark website:  http://www.watermark.org/dallas/message/3526.