Daily Devotional Thought--For the Family

Collect of the Week (Proper 13-C)

O Lord, grant us wisdom to recognize the treasures You have stored up for us in heaven, that we may never despair but always rejoice and be thankful for the riches of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

John 1:43-51

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."  ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  ⁴⁵ 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."  ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."  ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"  ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"  ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."  ⁵¹ And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Devotion

In the name of T Jesus.

Philip was called, and went to follow Jesus.  But Philip had a friend, Nathanael, and so he shared with his friend the Good News about Jesus: “We have found him!”  But Nathanael, hearing that the one who was written of by Moses and the prophets was from Nazareth, was a bit skeptical: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

There’s no doubt that, if you’ve attempted to share the Good News about Jesus, you’ve been met with skepticism as well.  Because of a variety of unfortunate reasons, many people will not have ears that are opened to hearing the message of salvation.  So what are we to do?

We do what Philip did.  He didn’t argue with his friend.  He didn’t become angry with his friend. And he also didn’t boast of what he had become (You know, “look at what Jesus has done for me!”).  And that’s good, because none of those things could have done anything to change Nathanael’s heart.  So what did Philip do?  He simply said, “Come and see.”  Come and see Jesus.

Jesus is the one who can change our hearts.  And now that Jesus is ascended, the Holy Spirit takes the preaching of Jesus, and delivers it into ears to create faith in hearts.  If you’ve been met with skepticism when you’ve attempted to share the Good News.  You might try Philip’s method.  You might simply invite your friend, to come and see—or hear!  Just come, and hear what Jesus has to say, and what he’s done for all.  In the name of T Jesus. Amen.

Prayer

O Lord, you tell us in Your Word that faith comes through hearing Your Word.  So make us to be your witnesses, that Your Son would be revealed, and Your kingdom extended; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.