LUKE 4:16-30

A modern day equivalent of this verse is "familiarity breeds contempt." Those who know the most about us also know more of our faults than anyone else. As a general rule, our weaknesses will blind most people to our strengths.

In the case of Jesus, there were no faults or failures to prejudice these people. The problem came from the people's lack of perception. They knew Jesus better than most in the flesh, but they had failed to see who He was in the Spirit.

Jesus was God in all His power and majesty, yet He was clothed in flesh --a human in every respect (1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews1:3). These people looked on Jesus' outward appearance and failed to see God within (1 Samuel 16:7).

We, too, fail to see the potential in others and even in ourselves because of our preoccupation with the outward appearance and actions. But within every born again person is a new creation which is waiting to be released (2 Corinthians 5:17). All it takes is someone who believes.

We need to look beyond the exterior in ourselves and others and help bring into reality what we can be in Christ.