Devotional Reading for the Day: John 1: 43-51

Text: (Jesus) found Philip …(John 1:43)

I find it interesting that the gospel writer in John made a point of having Jesus find Philip.

When I was a young man there was an evangelism push that swept  America called, “I Found It.” There were billboards, bulletin inserts and even campaign-like buttons. A lot of churches bought into the movement. There was something about it, though, that made me uneasy. Then someone pointed out to me that “It” wasn’t lost. I was. We are lost. It is God who finds us not us who finds God.  This is true from Adam and Eve in Garden onward. “I once was lost but now am found” the old hymn* says.

Philip, like Andrew before him, told other about how Jesus came into his life and changed it. Suddenly, he was on a great journey discovering what it means to be really alive. During this season of Lent, this time of reflection in preparation for the celebration of Easter, we would do well to think about how Christ came into our lives and made a difference. We’d do better by sharing this “good news”–this “gospel”–with someone else.

Prayer: Lord, do not allow me to keep private how you touched my life and opened my eyes to the true reality of life. Give me the wisdom, the words and the courage to share how you changed me with a “Nathaniel”.  Amen.