In Whom There is Guile?

In the first chapter of John we have the interesting story of Nathanael.

After being told by Andrew that they had found the Messiah, Nathanael flippently remarked 'can any good come out of Nazareth?' Nazareth was not an upmarket part of town by any means, and to a Jewish mind moulded by circumstance rather than the word of God, it did not seem like the place to produce the warrior-king Christ that would set the Jews free from the oppression of the ruling Romans.

We know of the moment when Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and called  him 'an Israelite in whom there is no guile' and Nathanael's reponse in asking how Jesus knew him.

Imagine with me if Nathanael had guile within him. Imagine if he had not been praying under the fig tree as some suppose, but plotting how to fiddle his work expenses or dodge his temple tax? If Christ had called out to him and said 'here comes a deceiver' would he have asked how he knew him or would he be angry that he was being accused? Would he have missed out on salvation and a chance to see 'greater things'?

We find it easy to identify ourselves with praise, but owning up to failings and flaws is a lot harder. When God speaks to us will we gladly respond to His commendation and ignore His reproof, or will we enter into all He has for us with an open and transparent heart, whether the word comes directly from Him or through headship, leadership or friendship?

Whether I am an Israelite with guile or without, I always want to run to Him as He speaks to me, that I may see those greater things and if the guile is there, that it can be removed.