MATTIE'S CHRISTIAN PAGES

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Chim'sWRITE
Christmas 2000
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Can Anything Good Come from Nazareth?
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' "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.'
John 1:46.  
 
Nazareth must have obviously been good-for-nothing. I believe that
Nathanael, whom Jesus qualified as being without guile, could not
have reacted out of mere spite but out of truth and sober judgment of
what he knew Nazareth's history to be. An history of failure.

Perhaps there are some of us that can identify with Nazareth. Perhaps
because of your several failures in the past people and even you have
ceased to expect any great thing from your life. Perhaps you have
fallen into shame that you find hard to forget. Maybe it's a
particular aspect of your life where you have failed - maybe in your
marriage, business, family, or ministry. Perhaps you are at a stage
where you are wondering if anything good can ever come out again from
that area of your life.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose to become a citizen of
Nazareth - to become know as "Jesus of Nazareth"? Well, that is the
message of Christmas - that Jesus came not for winners but for
losers.  You see Jesus is always drawn to the downcast - the losers.
He feels the pain of our shame even when it is our rebellion that has
brought it on us. And he cares and comes to lift us up from it.

In reply to Nathanael's cynicism Philip said  "Come and see,". The
truth is that when Jesus is allowed into even the most shameful story
you'd soon see that things change into glory. When he came into
Nazareth he changed its history.

Beloved, no matter what we think of ourselves (or what people think
of us), this Christmas Jesus wants you to know he wants to change
your history. He wants to deliver you from your past. Do not say
never. Because with Jesus we can go on to become all that we were
called to be. Do not think it is all over, no matter where we are
now, with Jesus we can start again.

Can anything good come out from your life? Yes! With Jesus in control
you can dare to dream again. You can launch out into the deeps again
and bring in a big catch where in the past you caught nothing.

" You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and
clothed me with joy,  that my heart may sing to you and not be
silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. " Ps. 30: 11-12
 
I pray that you'd have a very enjoyable Christmas and that the Lord
would cause the coming year to be one of great blessings and glory in
your life in Jesus' Name.

I appreciate all the comments and encouraging feedbacks I receive
from many of you on this list.


That all the nations may praise Him,
Chimezie Onyebilanma
cross-cultural missionary with CAPRO in Togo.

To learn more about the cross-cultural missionary work of CAPRO Togo
send any email to caprotogo@bibway.com

To learn more about supporting missionaries please visit www.adopt-a-
missionary.org

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May all the nations praise HIM!