DO NOT BE PRESSURED BY OTHERS TO DO SOMETHING JESUS DIDN’T ASK YOU TO
SCRIPTURE:
“After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” 12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.” (John 7:1—13 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
There is a time for everything. There is a God time, a people’s time, event-driven time, and my time. We are all by-products of the decisions that we made in any of these times. We also reap the consequences of our choices and decisions made during these times. Jesus’ brothers came to him and said, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea so that your disciples there may see the works you do. Then comes the pressure tactic, “No one who wants to be a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. FOR EVEN HIS OWN BROTHERS DID NOT BELIEVE IN HIM.
Family-driven pressure often leads people to act out of time. It is often painful that some of the challenges that we face in life come directly from our own family. Jesus’ brothers misunderstood his purpose. They thought Jesus came to show off himself. They assumed that Jesus’ purpose for doing all that he was doing was for show. Jesus’ brother’s false assumption and not knowing his purpose of coming to earth made the tone of their assumption so judgmental. They accused Jesus of doing his work in SECRET. Yet throughout all of Jesus, miracles and deeds were always before a crowd. Lesson learned: I must not give in to the pressure of people, even if it comes from my own family.
Event-driven times are also a difficult pressure to withstand. Jesus’ brothers told him to go to Judea, for there was a festival about to happen. Leave Galilee and go show off to your disciples in Judea. Jesus told his brothers, you go, I am not going. Lesson learned: I must not leave my Galilee because of pressures from loved ones. I must learn when to move rather than be pressured by certain events in life. Not every event and opportunity is part of God’s purpose and plans in my life.
My time is very crucial in knowing when God wants me to do something. I was often troubled by my own time doing something that I felt God said to do. There are many reasons why my time is a challenge. I am often trying to figure out what I must do. I struggled with whether what I wanted to do was of God or my own desire, and thus, I was unsure how to respond in time. My time is also extremely challenging when I am fearful of people’s opinions if I am a people pleaser. I also feel the crushing blow of shame and wounded pride if things that I felt to do didn’t materialize. Lesson learned: Jesus knew his purpose, and God’s plans must never be let by pressure but by obedience. Jesus said, MY TIME IS NOT YET HERE, FOR YOU ANYTIME WILL DO.
When I learned to know what Jesus’ timing is, then ANY OTHER TIME WILL NOT DO for my convenience. I must learn to stay in God’s time and not move. Lesson learned: I must never move on to family pressure, event pressure, or my own pride, but move on to God’s timing. I must stay in Galilee if that is where God’s will is for me. I must not go to Judea to fulfill the times that others are putting on me. God’s timing may ask me to move even when no one expects it.
God’s timing is NOT JUST ANYTIME to do whatever it needs to be done. God’s timing is of his choosing and not dictated by pressure from family, friends, events, and even self. Jesus went out to Judea in God’s timing, but he went unannounced. God’s timing is effective whether it is broadcast or in secret. God does not work to show off his power and might but to make me obedient to his plans and purpose. God’s timing is always the right time to do something. God has already spoken on so many things to do, but so often, we battle with timing.
APPLICATION:
I want to be like Jesus, unmoved by pressures from his family. Jesus was so keen on doing what the will of the Father was. He chose to stay in Galilee rather than be pressured to move to Judea, where the actions were. So many times, I tend to move things where the actions are. I want to be like Jesus in his obedience to God’s purpose and not give in because of pressure from others. Not everyone I know, whether they are family or friends, has my best interest. God does. I will commit to hearing him more about his purposes and plans for my life.
PRAYER:
Father, thank you for reminding me again of the importance of walking in the fear of you. I want to walk in obedience to you and the time that you set up for me to do what is in your heart. Please help me to be sensitive to your timing and to be so near you to hear your word about what you want me to do. Teach me to be obedient to your word daily. Please help me never to be moved or pressured by others to do something out of your will. In your name Jesus, Amen!
