Guest – A person who is invited to visit the home of another or to share in an organized function.
Pest – A person or thing that annoys, especially by imposing itself when it is not wanted or welcomed.
A lot of times, we look at others as pest and not ourselves. Sometimes, we believe because what we have and know other people need so sometimes push our beliefs and opinions on others.
The difference between a guest and a pest is simply invitation or reception. Some people will celebrate us and some people will tolerate us, and some can care less either way.
So Jesus went back to visit his home town, he even went to church to speak, they were amazed but thought he had become arrogant, they knew his family, they knew what his family business was, now he thinks that he is all that, so they did not receive him, for the most part, a few did receive him but Jesus could not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Sometimes the hardest people to reach is our own family, friends and other people that know you, but sometimes we try to force our wisdom, spiritual insights, disciplines on others and if they don’t welcome or receive us we are wasting our time and we can become a Pest to them.
Later Jesus went to a small town called Genneseret and they were so excited to see him, they received him and went throughout the region to get the ones that needed a touch, they really celebrated Jesus but Jesus’s own home town couldn’t even tolerate him.
Jesus even told his disciples that if you’re not received, just move on or wait until people are ready.
I’m finally learning not to be a pest, it’s hard for me because I believe that i have so much wisdom, knowledge and understanding, plus I am really close with God, but none of that matters if I am not welcome into a life or a situation. I know what I’m not, but most importantly I know what I am, who I am, and whose I am. Jesus was a living stone to someone but to s, me Jesus was a stumbling block, we are completely useless to some but to s, me we are life savers.
Guest or pest, tolerated or celebrated, when dealing with people, family, friends, co-workers, school, business, even potential opposite sex relationships we need to realize where we stand and acccept it so we don’t waste unnecessary energy or time, there is always someone that really needs you and what you have to offer.
Jesus went to his hometown:
Jesus went to his hometown, and his power minimal because he was not received, no matter who we are or what we know if you’re not received, we will not be as affective as we want.
Matthew 13:53-58(ERV)
V. 53 When Jesus finished teaching with these stories, he left.
V. 54 He went to the town where he grew up. He taught the people in the synagogue, and they were amazed. They said, where did this man get such wisdom and this power to do miracles?
V. 55 Is not he just the son of the carpenter we know? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
V. 56 And don’t all his sisters still live here in the town? How is he able to do these things?
V. 57 So they had a problem accepting him. But Jesus said to them, “People everywhere give honor to a Prophet, bit in his own home town or in his own home a Prophet does not get the honor”.
V. 58 Jesus did not do many miracles there because the people did not believe in him.
Jesus went to another small town:
Jesus was very effective here because he was received.
Matthew 14:34-36(ERV),
V. 34 After they crossed the lake, they came to Gennesaret.
V. 35 Some men there saw Jesus and knew who he was. So they sent word to the other people throughout thar area that Jesus had come. The people brought all their sick people to him.
V. 36 They begged Jesus to let them only touch the edge of his coat to be healed. And all the sick people who touched his coat were healed.
So, as bloggers, influences, teachers, preachers, leaders, sisters, brothers, friends etc, we should know our audience. Everyone is not gonna like or receive from, not that we should stop trying but don’t get frustrated.
To some people, we are life savers, God sent, to some people we are nothing to them, matter of fact we may annoy some people. So we must continue to be the best that we can be, knowing that everyone is not gonna praise us, but we should be fine with that.
Even our kids, when they become adults, that will be a challenge at times for some of us, we should always try with them but not get too frustrated, but that can be difficult, I can sometimes be a pest to my grown kids, but I keep trying to do better.
Finally to some, we will be a welcome guest in their lives. To some, we may be a pest, but let’s keep moving forward.
The I AM Principle 