"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nazareth, I assume, was a town that was looked down on in Jesus' time. Was it of ill-repute? Was it just a poor, small town amongst more well-off towns? Or was it the people that stayed there? What would make it hard for Nathanael to think that ANYTHING good can come from here?
How many of us have our own Nazareths? Is it the home we live in, the town we live in, the neighborhoods we live in, the country we live in, the schools we go to, or even ourselves? Let's be real: there are many people who will make us think we are not enough because of where we're from or who we are. Like Marvin Sapp said, people will count you out. If you're not as successful as them, look as good as them, have the homes and cars as them, what are you here for? Who are you? And it can work the opposite way, too: you're successful, you didn't come from where I'm from, you're not real because you didn't struggle like I did. Who are you? What are you here for?
After Hurricane Katrina, I went to Alcorn for college. When I had conversations with people in the area, we would be laughing and smiling and sharing deep thought. But, when I told them that I was from New Orleans, I got the nastiest reactions, from frown faces/mean mugging to deep sighs of disappointment. Like, really? Even people in other parts of Louisiana had a tendency to give the "man, forget New Orleans" vibe. I don't know why they felt that way of New Orleans, but I felt like they felt like Nathanael: "New Orleans? Can anything good come out of New Orleans?"
Yes. Does New Orleans have its issues? Yes. What city doesn't? But, being a native New Orleanian, I know that the city - its people, its neighborhoods, its spirit - has potential and purpose. I believe that, regardless of socioeconomic status, every neighborhood has the potential to be a success in its own right. I think that, if we bring our ideas, talents and gifts to the table, lots of good can come from it.
Choose to define your surroundings; choose to defy the negative persuasions against you; choose to value you - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Let's also say this: we have to know that, yes, any good can come out of any town or person. I love how Jesus deals with Nathanael. He knew how Nathanael felt about Nazareth and still Jesus took him as a disciple. I like that He felt Nathanael was authentic, which is definitely needed for His ministry. I felt that this was Jesus' way of telling Nathanael, "what I do is good, and I want to grow you into greatness, regardless of your walk in life or where you're from."
Be brave to be authentically you, to live in your purpose, to live your truth, even if your truth projects a certain level of Nazareth-ness. Those that choose to get to know, grow, and value you will stay with you - not for what you can do for them, but for how you both positively affect each other.
What it comes down to in life: instead of believing what the world believes about you, believe what God believes about you: that you're worth dying for, that you are greatness because He is greatness (since you're in His image), that your calling makes you special, regardless of your background or your geographic location or socioeconomic status.
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Yes, good can come out of Nazareth. If only Nathanael knew the positive potential in his question!
Shine on, and good living!
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