Daily Devotion for August 11, 2006

How Did You Come to Know Jesus?

 

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. 1 John 1:41-42

 

  "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." (be baptized) The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:31, 34-35, 37

 

Martin Luther’s Catechism states: By nature I am spiritually blind, dead, and an enemy of God, as the Scriptures teach; therefore, “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.”  (1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 12:3).  However, the Holy Spirit can work through others who are filled with the Spirit to introduce you to know Jesus.

 

How did you come to know Jesus? That is a question I frequently ask people. I want to know how they came to know Jesus, and I want them to be able to describe how it happened. It is a simple question, really. It gives people the opportunity to share the “hope that lies within them”.  For some, it is in their Baptism as a baby, for others it is through other means first.

 

 The scripture verses for today explain how various people came to know Jesus. The disciples were attracted to Jesus in several ways- by direct invitation from Jesus, and by direct invitation from friends or family members. The Spirit led Philip to the Ethiopian who was seeking God. The words of the Ethiopian are haunting. Upon Philip’s question about his understanding of the scripture, the Ethiopian said, “How can I understand these writings if no one explains them to me?” The Ethiopian was begging for help in trying to understand the most fundamental question of life- how could I have a relationship with God? Are there people in your life who are asking the question of a lifetime? That question is “How can I know Jesus?”

 

 Think back to the person or persons who introduced you to Jesus, or helped you, through God’s word to better understand Jesus. How did they do that? What questions did you ask? Have you talked to that person lately? If you are able to, call or contact that person, and thank them for introducing you to Jesus.

 

 We see in the gospel of John that Andrew, upon realizing who Jesus was, invited his brother to follow Jesus with him. This started a chain, which has lasted for 2000 years- one brother or sister leading another to Jesus. Our job is to keep the chain going, by offering the life-giving relationship of Jesus Christ to others.

 

Prayer
Jesus, let my life and my words show the world who you are.  By your Holy Spirit, work through my life so others can come to know you! Amen

 

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