Overcoming Ourselves: The Challenge of Change(Luke 4:21-30) 02.02.2025
- Pastor Jin
- Feb 2
- 5 min read
What is something that may seem light to others but feels unbearably heavy to us?
Our eyelids.
Keeping our eyes open continuously is one of the most exhausting things we can do. When we are sleepy, no one can overcome the weight of their eyelids.
On average, a person blinks about 20,000 times a day, excluding sleep. This means that we cannot keep our eyelids lifted indefinitely. But beyond physical exhaustion, we face another, far greater challenge—overcoming ourselves.
Who is the most formidable and fearsome enemy we face? Is it the criminals or adversaries we commonly refer to? No, it is ourselves. Fear comes from within, and overcoming oneself means being able to conquer any challenge in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi, who led India's independence movement through nonviolent resistance, once said, “Conquering oneself is greater than conquering thousands of enemies.” He understood that the greatest challenge is not external but internal. Getting to know yourself, discovering who you are, and growing as a person is one of the hardest things in life.
The Difficulty of Change
What do you think is the most difficult challenge in this world? In my opinion, the hardest thing is accepting ourselves and changing our thoughts and actions. The next most difficult thing is changing the thoughts and actions of those closest to us. Why is that? Because it disrupts familiarity, stability, and even our sense of identity. When change begins, people tend to resist it, as it brings uncertainty and anxiety. That is why, when someone tries to bring about change, others typically react by saying, “Who are you to try and change this?”
In today's passage, Jesus reveals that He is the Messiah foretold in Isaiah and preaches the gospel in His hometown. This was a shocking change for the people who had known Him since childhood. They were familiar with His family, yet He declared that He was the fulfillment of prophecy. This was a profound mental and emotional shock for them. Struggling to accept such a drastic change, they ultimately rejected Him and even tried to kill Him.
However, upon closely examining the passage, we see that the people of His hometown had already refused to accept Him. That is why Jesus said, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’” This proverb means, “Before healing others, heal yourself first to prove that you are a great physician.” The people demanded that Jesus perform miracles in His hometown, just as He had done in Capernaum, to prove His identity as the Messiah. But in reality, they had already made up their minds. No matter how many miracles He performed, they would always find another reason to deny Him.
Jesus’ ministry both began and ended with mockery. Despite revealing Himself as the Messiah, He was met with rejection from the very beginning, and in the end, He was crucified by those who refused to accept Him. The people had already decided in their hearts not to recognize Jesus. They were determined not to change their minds.
The Struggle to Share the Gospel
Have you ever faced difficulties when trying to step out of your comfort zone and change something? Or have you ever been rejected when attempting to bring change into someone else's familiar and comfortable life?
In my family, my mother made great efforts to share Jesus with her non-religious relatives. She had one-on-one conversations about the gospel, urged them to consider faith, stood by them in times of need, and prayed for them daily. However, the more she tried, the more her family resisted going to church. At times, they even distanced themselves from her. She once said, “Sharing the gospel with family is the hardest thing.” Her family resisted not because they didn’t understand the message but because they feared how it would disrupt their lives.
Choosing a Life with Jesus
Have you ever feared living a changed life while dwelling in comfort and familiarity? Some might say, “Pastor, I am incredibly busy! I am neither comfortable nor living a familiar routine. Every day feels like a struggle in an ever-changing life.” However, sometimes even a busy life can be a form of familiarity. We may think we are living in constant change, yet in reality, nothing truly changes.
In Luke 14:15-24, a man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. When the feast was ready, he sent his servant to call those who had been invited. However, one by one, they made excuses. One said he had just bought a field, another had purchased five yoke of oxen, and another had recently married—each claiming to be too busy to attend. In the end, none of them came to the banquet. These people believed their lives were full of change and busyness, yet in reality, nothing had changed—they continued living for themselves. They were willing to embrace worldly changes but were unwilling to live a life with Jesus.
A Prayer for Transformation
Heavenly Father,
We come before You today, humbled by Your presence and challenged by Your Word. Lord, we confess that we often seek comfort and familiarity, fearing the changes that come with truly following You. We fill our lives with busyness, thinking we are moving forward, yet sometimes we remain unchanged in our hearts.
Lord, open our eyes to see the ways we resist Your calling. Help us to let go of the excuses we make—whether it be our work, our responsibilities, or our fears—so that we may fully embrace the life You have prepared for us. Like those invited to the banquet, we do not want to miss the joy of being with You because we are too caught up in our own pursuits.
Give us the courage to step out of our comfort zones, to trust in Your plans, and to walk in faith even when the path is uncertain. Transform our hearts so that we no longer cling to the familiar but instead seek the newness of life that comes from being in Your presence.
Jesus, You were rejected by those who knew You best, yet You never turned away from the mission set before You. Strengthen us to remain faithful, even when we face resistance from those around us. May we be bold in sharing Your truth and steadfast in our devotion to You.
Holy Spirit, guide us each day. Shape us into people who long not for worldly stability but for the eternal security found in You. May our lives be a testimony of true transformation, reflecting the love and grace of our Savior.
We surrender our fears, our doubts, and our comforts to You, Lord. Lead us, change us, and use us for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
