Don't Let Ridicule Stop You

Thursday, March 12th, 2026

5:06 am

Good morning! Today I am in John 7:1-9. Jesus and His disciples travel around Galilee. Jesus wanted to stay out of Judea because the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Him. But it was soon time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters. His brothers tried to talk Him into going to Judea. Telling Him that His followers in Judea should see His miracles because He couldn't become famous if He stayed hidden. That if He could do such wonderful things, He should show Himself to the world. John states right here that, "For even His brothers didn't believe Him. (John 7:5)" Jesus told them that it was not yet time to go, but they could go at any time. Because the world didn't hate them, but the world hates Him because He accuses it of doing evil. He told them to go on, but He was staying.

Jesus' own brothers did not believe in Him. And they tried to talk Him into going to Judea so people could see the miracles He did, so He could become famous. I guess they thought He was doing all this for fame. They did not believe or understand what Jesus was doing and why He was there. People will treat us the same way. When God puts something on our hearts to do, not everybody will understand, and most of the time our closest friends and family can be the ones that will oppose us the most. Many times our friends and family see us before God changes our lives, and they have a hard time believing what God is doing in us. But we must not let that discourage us. Jesus knew that He had to go to Judea, and that He would die there, but He also knew that it was not yet time to go. His brothers didn't know that.

Like Jesus didn't allow His brother's unbelief to sidetrack Him from what He knew He was supposed to do, we must not allow our families and friends to stop us from doing what God is calling us to do. We must have patience with those closest to us, but keep going on the path He is calling us to. Eventually, they may come to believe. Jesus tells us right here that walking in God's will will not be easy. That we will face opposition because the world hates Him, and anyone who follows Him. But we must endure until our end because God is Lord of all. He is the one that holds our future. And nothing or no one should come between us.

Allow God to give you the strength to endure whatever opposition you may come against today. When you allow Him to guide you, He will give you the right words to say, and at the right time. So don't be afraid to speak up for Him. He has got you.