Thursday, January 19, 2017

Come and See




“And Nathaneal said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’  Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’”  John 1:46

Oh Lord, we thank you for the miracles and wondrous works You have performed in Your people wounded from abortion.  Lord, I pray that as the stories are told, You are glorified and those in attendance at the banquet would come and see that You are our mighty Healer, whose mercies never fail.  Lord, we ask for You to do a mighty work at the banquet and may all Your purposes be fulfilled in it.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prejudice can take hold and strangle the view of light.  When that hold is released, our eyes are opened to see the works of God in unexpected places. 

One of the first to follow Jesus was Philip.  Philip was a friend of Nathanael.  He went to him and told him about Jesus. 

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote of Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’’  John 1: 45

However, Nathanael had a prejudice against those in Nazareth.  From reading research and commentaries, Nazareth was a small town and disregarded in stature.  The Jewish people had been waiting centuries for the Messiah to come as prophesied by Isaiah.  Pomp and circumstance were overshadowed by a manger and a small town man.  Nathanael had a predetermined idea of the Messiah and Nazareth didn’t fit the mold.  It was because of his preconceived ideas, he nearly missed a divine meeting with the Messiah. 

No matter where someone is from, this truth remains:  When God enters into the picture, He changes the darkest of circumstances into a bouquet of life.  The Lord loves using those we would least expect.  In fact,  1 Corinthians 1:27-28 states, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty, and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen.”

Abortion is dark.  Nothing good comes from it. And in fact, some may despise those who have had abortions.  But God loves to turn those overcome with darkness into dauntless warriors for His Kingdom proclaiming the truth of His love and life for all who will come and see. 
 
When God enters into that place where nothing good can come, He brings life where only death once reigned.  He showers down healing to the dry barren lands.  He shines light until all darkness is expelled.  He releases the slave and the captive is not only freed, but becomes a force of reckoning.  This is the miracle of meeting the Messiah.  This is the miracle one must come and see.
 
“Come and see the works of God;  He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.”  Psalms 66:5