This morning’s devotional is offered by Dennis Herman. 

John 1:45-46 …We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’

Recently I saw a Facebook post from my hometown of Hudson, N.C.  It was a 1954 black and white photo of the Hudson Cotton Mill all decked out for Christmas.  On top of the Mill were mounds of cotton snow topped by lighted trees, a sleigh, and Santa himself.  It was a nostalgic trip to my childhood as I remembered our annual trek to see the Christmas rooftop display at the Mill, to hear the carols; and see the beautiful colored lights of the season. It was a highlight of my Christmas. How simple and unsophisticated it sounds now.

In 1954 I had no inkling of what the future might hold.  Oh, the places I would go; the people I would know; the things I would experience.  Only God knew!

Other folks from my hometown would go places and do things unthinkable to any of us back then.  Jan Karon would find inspiration from her first grade school teacher at Hudson and go on to be the famous author of the Mitford series of novels.  My Hudson High classmate, Jim Avett, would eventually record music with his sons, the Avett brothers.  Another classmate, Bill Oxford, visited the Oval office last month and received a Presidential recognition for his work as national president of the American Legion. Another Hudson friend, Roger Nix, would serve with distinction as executive director of the Raleigh Baptist Association longer than any previous director.  And the list of surprises and accomplishments of hometown folks goes on.  Who would have thought it?

The Nazareth hometown folks never thought one of their own might be chosen to be the very Way and Truth of God.  Yet, God chose Jesus to be born into a common family from a humble, poor town to be the Savior!  Who would have thought it?