"To Jesus" May 15 Readings: 2 Samuel 19-20, John 1:19–51, Psalm 62:1–8, Proverbs 13-3-4

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Senegal Update: Today will be arrival day in Ziquinchor. We will do our shopping for groceries and then head out the village of Dioher, where we will settle in for the next week. This is usually one of the toughest days, because of exhaustion from traveling.

Today's Readings - 2 Samuel 19-20, John 1:19–51, Psalm 62:1–8, Proverbs 13-3-4


Devotional - To Jesus


Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist until one day when another man walked by. John looked up at the other man and said, "Look, the Lamb of God." Andrew realized the import of these words and decided that it was time to follow Jesus. It is one of John's most godly qualities that he encouraged his followers to leave him and to follow another. That is what he did, along with the man who was with him.

Jesus saw these two men following him and asked, "What are you looking for?" Andrew and his friend answered the question with a question. "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Jesus invited them to join him and they spent the day with Jesus. Evidently, they were deeply impressed with what they saw, because Andrew left to do the most important thing anyone can do. He went out and found his brother Simon and John 1:42 tells us what he did next.
And he brought Simon to Jesus. 
He realized quickly that this one was The One, the promised Messiah, the hope of Israel. And he went and told his brother about it and brought him to see Jesus. Simon's life changed dramatically after that - he became known as Cephas, or Peter. All because his brother took the time to bring him to Jesus.

Sometimes, perhaps, we get too bogged down in the minutiae of witnessing, trying to deal with deeper theological issues, methodologies and strategies or learning canned gospel presentations. Each of those has their place. But evangelism is really much simpler than that.

Sinners find a Savior and bring other sinners to find the same Savior. We find our family, our friends and our neighbors and we bring them to Jesus. When they meet him, things change. It is great when we share the faith with strangers, with those we encounter on the street, at restaurants, on airplanes, wherever we are. But the most effective evangelism is the kind Andrew did. He brought his brother to Jesus.

Family. Friends. Neighbors. Evangelism and missions are not just something we are to do for people around the world. It is something we do for those we love, those we live with, those we encounter every day.

Father, I thank you for the people who brought me to you. May I pass along that blessing as I bring others to meet the Savior who saved me. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

It is true that witnessing can be hard, but remember that there is nothing more important in life than to bring people to Jesus.


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