The ‘tall poppy syndrome’ is where people attack, criticise, or resent someone else’s success and try to tear them down. If you are Australian, you would know all about this – we are known for ‘cutting down’ tall poppies!

I think that’s what’s happening in today’s Gospel. Jesus comes to his hometown and begins to preach and the people were offended! Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? We know his family, he’s not that important. Where did he get this power? What right does he have to preach to us?! Cut. Down. That. Tall. Poppy!

If I look closely at my heart, I wonder how willing I am to allow those around me to rise up and be used by God? How easily am I offended when others are given gifts to use in ministry…gifts that I haven’t been given? Do I celebrate that, or get jealous? Am I willing to allow God to use those close to me to lead me closer to Him?

Scripture goes onto say that a prophet is not welcomed in their own hometown. Again, I wonder how many moments of encounter with Jesus I could have experienced had I let go of my preconceived ideas of how ‘worthy’ someone is to be used in ministry and allowed myself to be ministered to by them. What if God was inviting me to come closer to him and because of my pride, I missed the opportunity?

Jesus, humble me. Help me to not be offended, but rather to celebrate when others around me rise up in faith.

by Bec Crouch