Friday August 4th: Familiarity breeds contempt

“He worked no miracles there because of their lack of faith.”

Matthew 13: 54-58

Jesus’ ministry took Him back to His hometown. There He amazed the people with His wisdom and miraculous powers. There should have been a celebration, great rejoicing because one of their own has returned, not empty-handed, but with captivating wisdom and miraculous powers. Instead, He met resistance because of their familiarity with Him.

The statement that familiarity breeds contempt is true in this case. Familiarity, in general, causes us to miss new experiences and new growth. Familiarity with God causes us to lose new blessings and insights. When we become set in our own notions of who God is, how He ought to work and the way He ought to appear, we will lose anything different that God wants to give.

That was the case with the people of Jesus’ hometown. He worked no miracles there because of their lack of faith. This passage teaches us not to box God into a preconceived package. Instead, be open-minded, humble and receptive to the new insights and experiences of God.