Are there times you feel inadequate? Do you get the feeling others look down on you because of where you come from? Is it because of the reputation your hometown has? Or is it due to their ignorance? Do you believe God can use you, no matter where you are from?
Many of us experience prejudice because of where we come from. We may be from small towns or the inner city. We may be from the beaches along either coast or from the farmland of the Midwest. We may be from the south or the north. We may be from another country.
Being looked down upon by others is not enjoyable. We feel like an outsider, less than others, like we don’t belong. We may even want to run and hide. Our desire to fit in causes us to feel guilty when we don’t. We strive to figure out what we can do to fit in the next time.
Here is the good news, God can and will use us, no matter where we come from. Take a look at today’s passage. There were some in the crowd that looked down upon and made fun of the apostles. Why? They were from the region of Galilee. You see, the Galilean region was widely known as a somewhat backward region of Israel. Many of them were fishermen and far less educated than those from Jerusalem. They weren’t cultured like the people of the big city.
The crowd was amazed to hear the apostles speaking in their own language. At a minimum, there were fifteen different languages and dialects being spoken by the apostles. This coming from people who typically only knew and spoke their own dialect. It would be like hearing a North Carolina fisherman speaking Japanese or Hebrew. Totally unexpected!
Some in the crowd made fun at them, stating they had drunk too much wine. Isn’t that what usually happens? Those who make fun of us do so in a ridiculous manner. Sometimes, it doesn’t even make sense. So, what are we to do? I suggest we ignore them and be comfortable knowing God has a plan for each of us.
Just like God used the less educated fishermen of Galilee, He plans to use us in ways we can not imagine. We simply need to be open to God’s plan. We need to listen for His guidance. God can and will use us, if we are willing, to carry out His bigger plan, even if we only play a smart part in it.
I pray we are all content with God’s plan. I pray we listen for His guidance. I pray each one of us ignore those who look down on us and rest easy in God’s love. Look to God in all situations. Know that God loves you. Know that God has a plan for you. Don’t worry what others think.
Acts 2:6-8, 12-13 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”…Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Marty Pressey 