Everyone Is Not Going to Understand Your Mission

Introduction

Family and ministry are very difficult to navigate simaltanueously. Often times the people closest to you may not understand the measure in which God has called you to serve. As we look at the life of Jesus it’s important that we take a close look at His family interactions. I believe it was Will Smith that once said, parents just don’t understand. Nonetheless, I’ll go a step further, understand and know that sometimes family is not going to understand the calling that God has on your life.

When it comes to ministry and serving we also have to be okay with the fact that everything impactful that you do is not going to be publicized. Some of your greatest impact in the kingdom could possibly happen in the midst of no one knowing you and what you’ve done. With that said, it’s necessary that we remember that God gets all the glory. 1 Peter 5:6 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,”. When God provides you with noteriety no one can argue with it, no one can dispute it, it’s exaltation that comes from a perfect source.

Many times people have issue with your calling because they are looking at you through the lens of your humanity rather than God’s power to use whomever He pleases.

John 7:5 “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.”

Matthew 13:55 “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?”

Understand so much so that even Jesus’ family attempted to interrupt Him while He was teaching. Matthew 12:46 “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.”

Family Doesn’t Always Know Best

Understand that your calling is your calling. God gave you this calling. I know it’s difficult because we love our family, we appreciate their insight. Understand that blood is not always an indicator of understanding.

How did they see this idea that his disciples needed to “see” him but couldn’t see the social dynamics of the Jews who wanted to kill their brother.

It was known that the Jews sought to kill Jesus. It was deeper than just individuals in the community, it was the rulers that wanted Jesus dead.

Jesus is at an interesting place in His journey, the chapter before many people walked away from following him.

John 6:66 “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

Understand that there will be times in your calling that you will have to walk alone, you will have to navigate life in a manner that forces you to depend on God and only God.

There are a lot of layers with this interaction. This feast of tabernacles is one of the most important feast of the Jews. There are times that you have to value your own journey over the precieved responsibility that people have on your life.

Jesus was trusting in God to reveal the timing for him in due time.

My purpose is based on a divine timetable not the timetable of society.

Society might say that I should be doing certain things by certain times, meanwhile God is working from a different timeline.

We also should be working from a Godly timeline.

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

We put so much emphasis on grinding, working hard, being booked and busy nonetheless there is power in waiting!

Understand that the world, and even family will give advice that is contrary to the will of God.

At work we have a schedule

At school we have a schedule

Store we shop at, restaurants we frequent have a schedule.

We understand schedules, and as we understand schedules understand that God has the final say-so. We can make all the plans we want to but God is still the final controller of the outcome.

Psalms 31:14-15 “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.”

Funny Times

It’s funny that in places in which we celebrate liberation and deliverance people can’t conceptualize the deliverance that you are a part of.

John 7:41-42 “Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?””

Worship is a place of liberation from sin.

When worship becomes a place of comparison and competition we have to ask ourselves why we are actually here.

My calling is what God placed on my life, it’s not about jealously, it’s not about competition, it’s about bring people to Christ.

Timing seems to be a family issues. John 2:4 “Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.””

When you are locked in with God, He blesses us with the discernment to listen to the right sources.

Jesus understood this, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always read”.

We can be in the same place for two differnt purposes. As Christians I’m not here to have fun, I’m here to serve and speak truth.

Sometimes we have to help people understand that just because they don’t hate you doesn’t mean that they don’t hate me. Sometimes it’s not me, but it’s the purpose God has put inside me that they do not like.

John 7:9 “When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.”

Sometimes the best part of your mission is the fact that you move forward in silence. I know you want to share the good news about your journey but sometimes moving in silence is the best thing that you can do.

John 7:10 “But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.”

Sometimes we talk too much, just because it’s good news doesn’t mean it’s supposed to be shared.

They saw the the festivities but didn’t understand that their own brother’s life was at stake.

People were so distraght and fearful that they couldn’t even talk about Jesus openly. Public support should never be an indicator of how you serve!

The Call of Salvation

Understand that salvation works in a similar way. You might be struggling with the fact that your family might not be in agreement but that’s what salvaton is about it’s about an individual’s opportunity to respond to the grace and goodness of God.

Family and friends may not understand your jouney of salvation, even when they don’t understand I know God does.

It’s not about daddy right now, it’s not about momma right now. It’s not about anyone else right now except you! Are you willing to submit to the will of Christ Jesus?

John 7:14 “Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.”

Folks will always be upset, you can be the best teacher, preacher, worship leader and what will always matter is how you heed the instruction of God!