“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’ ” (John 1:43-46).

Visiting your local zoo can be a great way to spend time with your family. Some of the animals are very visible during the day while others enjoy hiding from the large crowds. When those in hiding eventually come out, the guests begin shouting and calling their families to “come and see.” They want those in their family, both young and old, to see the action, too.

When Jesus began winning disciples, it took careful thought on the part of these men and women to grasp the significance of His presence. Their thoughts must have been, “This is too good to be true.” The disciples challenged and encouraged others to see Jesus for themselves. They not only wanted to talk about Jesus, they wanted people to see Him in action. People want to see real Christians in action.

They are tired of the empty promises, the greedy schemes, and the hypocritical lifestyles. When people meet a genuine believer in action, it is a sight to behold. Unfortunately, the bad examples illustrated by believers seem to outpace the good ones.

Make no mistake; your life influences others to follow Jesus or abandon Him altogether. When you lose your job or suffer from health problems, people are watching. When you correct your children or speak with your spouse, others take notice. When the opportunity to help someone is presented to you, your actions will speak louder than your words.

Someone may say to their close relative, “I found someone who says they are a Christian. Come and see.” If they do, what would they find that reflects Christ in your place of work? What habits would they be able to observe throughout your week? Would they say that you trust God in every area of your life? Would generosity and sacrificial love be observed?

Read:  Open your Bible and read Psalms 1:1-6.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: How can delighting in God’s Word strengthen my character? What metaphor describes the change?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter)” (John 1:40-42).

Everyone is waiting in line with you for the doors to open. It’s 11:59 PM on Thanksgiving night. Shoppers are ready to attack the isles. You know exactly where to go to quickly get what you need. You have a list memorized in your mind. The question is where do you go first? Knowing that time and quantities are limited, it can be a tough decision indeed.

When you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, whom did you tell first about your transformation? It may have started with your immediate family, close circle of friends, and co-workers. We usually share good news with those who know us best. We want them to be part of the celebration.

The challenge for us is to make sure we do everything we can to reach everyone we can. Notice Paul’s deep conviction: “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23). Paul was relentless in his pursuit of bringing men and women to Jesus. It was his singular focus.

You have a key role in bringing people to Jesus. You might object and say, “Well, I’m not a Pastor, an Evangelist, or a Teacher.” That may be true, but you are an ambassador for Christ. God is counting on you to make Jesus known to everyone that you possibly can. You are God’s voice in a dark and gloomy world. Regardless of your gifts, you are salt and light on this earth. Right now, people desperately need you to bring them to Jesus. You may not be the one to lead them in prayer to accept Jesus.

You may not be the one to answer all of their doubts. However, God has a specific purpose for you, in their process to knowing the Savior. Do your part and let God do His part. Don’t be afraid and don’t delay. Bring them to Jesus.

Read:  Open your Bible and read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: Paul made personal adjustments to reach all people. How flexible are you in this area?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, ‘What are you seeking?’ And they said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’ So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour” (John 1:35-39).

“Can I help you?” It is a popular question among retail store employees. They see you walk through the door of their store and ask, “Is there anything in particular I can help you find?” Most of us say, “No, thank you. I want to look around.” At least we know who to go to for help if needed.

There are many different reasons why people go to church or join a small group. They begin exploring the Christian life one step at a time, one activity at a time. They may not be able to fully explain their presence, but their growing desire to know God personally is usually a key factor.

Why do you go to church? Why have you joined a small group? Jesus was very direct with John’s disciples. He asked, “What are you seeking?” Without question, John shared with his disciples the spectacular events that took place the day before. But what they were looking for was the central question. Were these disciples of John looking for the Messiah, or did they want to see another spectacular activity? What were they looking for?

John’s disciples wanted to learn more about Jesus. They called Jesus “Rabbi.” Jesus was recognized as a teacher. The disciples were willing to learn from the Master Himself. They were ready to listen to His teachings. The disciples simply wanted to know more about Jesus. Conversations on the street do not compare to spending time with someone at their home.

Why the pursuit? Are you hoping to see a spectacular show, or do you really want to better know Jesus? Knowing Jesus intimately and understanding his ways is a process. It is not a mechanical pursuit. It is a relationship. Are your ready to invest the time? What are you seeking?

Read:  Open your Bible and read 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: Since God knows your heart, how does that encourage you in your pursuit of knowing Him more?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God’ ” (John 1:32-34).

It’s like solving a great mystery. You find clues along the way and begin piecing each of them together. You ask questions and gather information. Everything starts coming together. It may take hours or even weeks to figure out how everything is connected. But once you find the last clue, everything else suddenly becomes crystal clear. Case solved!

God told John that the Messiah would arrive. John surely must have been thrilled. His entire life’s work revolved around preparing people for the Messiah, and making a clear path for His arrival. God told John what to look for to identify the Savior. When John witnessed the promised sign take place right before his eyes, the mystery was solved. John received closure. He was now certain. This was the Messiah, the Son of God.

Can you imagine knowing one of your cousins since you were a child, but never understanding that he was the Messiah? John was not able to know the real Jesus until God revealed it to him. The term, “Son of God” points to the deity of Jesus Christ. It points to His divine origin, His eternal existence, and His shared relationship with the Father and Holy Spirit.

The Messiah was destined to rule in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. His Kingdom would prevail over all evil and would have no end. From this point forward, God would speak to his people through Jesus, the Son of God. It was a powerful moment in the life of John. Here he stood with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.

Jesus would now take things to another level. He would begin to baptize and immerse people into God’s Kingdom through faith in Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus would change lives. He would do much more than simply foreshadow our salvation. Jesus became our salvation.

Read:  Open your Bible and read Hebrews 1:1-9.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: How has knowing Jesus changed your life? What words would best describe His work in you?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.