Devotion - Thursday, January 16

In John chapter 1, Philip tells Nathanael 'We have found him of whom Moses in the law and prophets wrote."  Nathanael's response is to ask, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

It has been a while since I sat through a lecture on John 1, but I remember a list of reasons why Nazareth was an unsuitable city for Messiah to emerge.  There were other compelling reasons why Nazareth figures into the story.  Seems though the general population didn't think much of the place, this was part of God's way of raising up those from small backwaters with questionable backgrounds.  The general population may have strong opinions; God has other ideas.

This struck me, as I remembered Marion Fisher's comments at our LCM gathering last night.  He spoke of his experience as a black man living with the realities of 21st century racism.  Our opinions too often cause us to dismiss or excuse or ignore.  How many times have we ignored the One whom God has sent to us?

Nathanael comes around.  Fortunately.  But this story ought to be a reminder to all of us of the danger of allowing prejudices to blind us to One whom God is sending into our path, into our world.

Be careful.  Consider once more those whom you are tempted to dismiss or excuse or ignore.