Daily D – John 1:45-48

by David Bowman | Nov 4, 2023 | Daily D | 0 comments

John 1:45-48 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” (NLT)

—

Jesus sees you where you are.

Jesus knows your heart and mind.

He finds the shadows and illuminates those darkened places. His light exposes, reveals, clarifies, purifies, and drives away the gathered darkness.

Jesus looks for the best, for what he wants for you, what he has wanted for you from ages past before the world began. He knew you then. He knows you now. He sees all you can become by his grace, with his mercy, shaped by his holy hands and perfect purpose.

Jesus located and called out Nathanael’s integrity.

Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

He did not mention Nathanael’s skepticism.

What treasures are at the heart of who you are that Jesus would call out to you and others? How would he celebrate you?

Jesus was no dour, sarcastic, legalistic, spiritual bully. He found Nathanael’s best and put it on display. He took that best and made it better. The light of his life drove the shadows away from Nate’s very essence.

Again, who are you at your heart? What is your highest and best characteristic? Jesus knows, and he wants to begin there as he blesses this world through you.

The name Nathanael means “God has given.” It is similar to Nathan and Jonathan. These names have a common root meaning “to give.” God had given Nathanael integrity. He was trustworthy and dependable. He was like Jesus in this regard. What a starting place for something special!

Again, there at the core, where you are at your best, what is your defining characteristic? That’s where Jesus wants to begin shaping you into all you can be by his grace and with his mercy.

No star is ever lost we once have seen,
We always may be what we might have been.
(Adelaide Procter, “A Legend of Provence,” from The Poems of Adelaide A. Procter (Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1864), p. 191.

You, at your best, can begin right now.

—

I will be what I might have been.

—

Our Father, take us where we are and lead us where you want us to be. Shine your light on what you have given. Make it glow. May we reflect the light of your life and love to everyone we meet today. Amen.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Psalm 92:12-15

Psalm 92:12-15
The righteous thrive like a palm tree
and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the LORD,
they thrive in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
healthy and green,
to declare, “The LORD is just;
he is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

Daily D – Matthew 22:15-17

Matthew 22:15-17 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Daily D – Psalm 90:12

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

Daily D – Matthew 17:1-9

Matthew 17:1-9 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown and were terrified.
Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.” When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus alone.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Daily D – Matthew 15:34

Matthew 15:34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked them. “Seven,” they said, “and a few small fish.”