Month: November 2023

First and foremost I thank God for His grace and love. Second, we thank all those who served in our military for our freedom. I have had the blessing to have heard many stories of servicemen and women who have sacrificed a lot, from their lives to just being away from their families.

My grandfather served in the U.S. Navy, Antonio Torres, and by God’s grace he was my family’s ticket here from the Philippines. I was told it was a tough time to be an Asian in the military during WW2, so many Asians served in the kitchen and did the humbling jobs that you wouldn’t write an Academy award winning story or movie about. But maybe one day they will.

I was inspired to write about a lot of things this morning, took a lot of notes, however this one phrase touched my heart the most. And it was what Nathanael said about Jesus, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” So, did a little research on the town where Jesus spent most of his time, and here is a little crumb from God’s table.

So Jesus was referred to as “The Nazarene” or Jesus of Nazareth, and historically, Nazareth was a very poor town.

It is even written in John 1:45 that Philip found Nathanael and told him,

“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” and Nathanael replied, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”.

So the question that some may ask, “If Jesus grew up in a poor town does he condone poverty?”.

Well, the answer by revelation is simple, God does NOT condone poverty, however He is an advocate of ORDER. There is something beautiful and wise about embracing these humble beginnings. All great journeys have to start somewhere.

I have overheard a few times that the best officers in the Military were those who were once enlisted.

So I can see how that is, many times it is difficult to be led by someone who has never walked in your shoes.

It’s genuinely about “order” and even though that “Nazareth” is where it all started, it definitely didn’t end there, we all know the rest of the story that eventually changed the world.

Regretfully, I have routinely placed so much emphasis on my circumstances that I often forget what God is doing to my heart. As a believer, I have surrendered my will and given God full consent to humble me in any way He may choose so that I may mature in the Spirit.

So in closing, failures, rejections, poverty, death, betrayal, aches, and pains all have one thing in common, they are all very humbling to me.

But daily, I rejoice, because in my heart, Jesus is no longer that “Nazarene” or “Jesus of Nazareth”, today and forever He is now Jesus, The Christ, my Lord and Savior, my healer, the Son of the living God. #Acts238

Embrace the times when we are humbled, for it draws us nearer to God and God is love. Truly it is difficult to appreciate the finish if we have forgotten where we all have started.

Your brother in our war against sin,

Ray Evangelista