The following is an excerpt from I Am: The Divine Purpose Manifesto by Lenita Reeves, written to empower readers with words to speak back to circumstances that make them feel like underdogs, and press against their purpose like 90-mile per hour winds.
In Good Company
We may be purpose underdogs. Even so, we are in good company. While on earth, Jesus was also a purpose underdog.
“How?” you ask. Here are six ways Jesus was a purpose underdog and therefore, we are in good company.
#1 He didn’t have Paul’s education—at least not on paper.
He was God in the flesh: He knew all things. (John 16:30) But he was not schooled by the best scholars of the land like Paul by Gamaliel. The Jews marveled at Jesus saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” (John 7:15) He was a carpenter with a carpenter’s education and the scripture tells us that his own people looked down on him because of it:
… he went to the synagogue to teach, and the people were astonished at his wisdom and his miracles because he was just a local man like themselves. “He’s no better than we are,” they said. 3 “He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” And they were offended! 4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and by his own family.” (Mark 6:2-4, The Living Bible)
Despite their offense, Jesus declared that he was a prophet.
Even though he did not have the Pharisees’ education, he taught in the synagogues with authority. He understood that their response did not change who he was. He didn’t let a lack of earthy credentials or acceptances by the “in crowd” deter him. He knew the problem was with their lack of revelation—not with him. Jesus was able to do great works and miracles in other towns (other locations) among other people. This brings us to our first purpose underdog declaration…
End of Excerpt: Copyright 2016 Lenita Reeves and PurposeHouse Publishing
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