Because 50 Day 40
Scripture Reading: John 1:35-42
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
Today’s Prayer:
Lord, help me experience the more that You desire for me in my relationship with You.
Going Deeper:
I love the story of Andrew. He grew up in a little, remote fishing village. He truly desired to know God more so when John the Baptist comes through their area, they start to follow him. They learn a powerful message of repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah. One day, John points Jesus out to them. How did they respond to their teacher’s direction The teachable spirit that Andrew (and the other disciple) had reflects one of the things that Heath said that we needed to do: walk into obedience. John points, they go.
Part of what I love about Andrew’s story is that it is not just Andrew’s story. Andrew is so excited about having encountered the longed-for Messiah that he goes and tells his brother, Simon Peter. Because of Andrew’s obedience and his willingness to bring others along the journey, the world is a different place. Peter’s leadership in the establishment of the early church was vital. After Pentecost, according to church tradition, Andrew would take this same message that he shared with Peter to areas of modern day Turkey, Ukraine, Romania and Russia.
Andrew’s story raises some important questions for us. What are you pursuing? What is it that you want? Are you obedient to God’s direction in your life? Are you willing to leave behind what you are comfortable with to pursue where God is leading? Who are you bringing on the journey with you? Who are you investing in and helping to experience Jesus?