Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Theme: PRECEPTS FROM THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Text: “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him.” – John 7:40-43.

Comment: It is a common experience that some people in society are denied certain rights and privileges for no other reason than the circumstances of their birth, the colour of their skin or other social, political or economic reasons. The messiahship of our Lord Jesus Christ was disputed by some of the Jews, especially their leaders because he grew up in Galilee. For instance, during a celebration of the Feast, some weakened the faith of others by contending that no prophet had ever come from Galilee and that the prophecy instead pointed to Bethlehem as the place he would come from. They did not even know that the prophecy that Christ would come from Bethlehem had already fulfilled. – Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6.

The chief priests and Pharisees told Nicodemus “Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.” (John 7:45-53) Also, when Philip told Nathaniel that they had found the Christ, (John 1:44,45) Nathaniel retorted “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Christians should not despise, maltreat or isolate anyone for we are all created in God’s image and likeness. A society can only be great when all her talents are put to use. Apostle Peter, having been taught not to be prejudiced against anyone declared. “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” – Acts 10:34, 35