Read Luke 1:43-51
God Changes Our Reputation From WORST to AWESOME !
Jesus was going to Galilee and on his way he saw Philip and said to him, “Follow Me!” Philip was pretty excited to be one of Jesus’s disciples because he recognized him as the Son of God, the Messiah. In excitement, he went and found Nathaniel (Bartholomew) and told him that they had found the Messiah from Nazareth.
In unbelief, Nathaniel responded, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip responded, “Come and see!” When Jesus saw Nathaniel he said, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” This captured Nathaniel’s attention because he said “How do you know me?” Jesus answered in a way that would give proof that he was the Son of God because he knew that Nathaniel was under the fig tree before Philip came to him. No way could Jesus have known that unless he had power beyond one’s understanding. In hearing this, Nathaniel believed Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah.
Jesus said you believe and marvel that I knew you were under the fig tree. But guess what? You will see even greater things than that for God’s power will be displayed upon me in these coming days.
I find it interesting that Nathaniel thought nothing good could come from Nazareth. Nazareth had such a bad reputation because of being a small village along with having people seemingly unrefined and morally questionable. Jesus shot down the prejudice and the preconceived ideas by displaying himself with God’s holy power.
This made me think of Saul who had a horrible reputation, yet, when God’s power got a hold of Saul, he became a new person. He went from being a man of persecution of Christians, to being a man who was persecuted for being a Christian. God got a hold of Saul’s life and gave him a new name, Paul. God transformed Paul’s life and then displayed his power through Paul in mighty ways. God changed his reputation from being BAD to GOOD, WORST to AWESOME.
God wants to do the same with each of us. What was or is your reputation? I don’t care how bad it was or is. All I know is, God can change that over time by transforming us into a mighty person for the Lord. So quit living in your past mistakes and sins. Quit letting the devil use your past in order to keep you from being all God wants you to be for him. Live in Who You Are in Christ not who you were without him.
