Behold the Son of God trolling Galilee’s shoreline and calling out to ordinary fishermen working the waters:
“If you thought your catch was significant out there. Follow me over here and I’ll include you in catching the attention and hearts of people.”
Time after time, account after account, from one ordinary scene to the other, Christ calls and would-be disciples commit…and the landscape of their lives and the world around them wouldn’t be the same as a result. But get this (because it’s crucial): No matter when it happened or how it occurred:
Any disciple’s transformation was preceded by an invitation.
“Okay, Pastor,” you quip, “I can concede that notion but only because it was Christ who was doing the calling. I mean, c’mon! Could we’ve expected a different outcome?”
To which I’d say, “Not so fast. Jesus wasn’t always joined by those who gave a jovial ‘Yes!’”
Take a note from Nathanael. His friend, Philip, was found by Jesus and with news this good, Philip refused to be quiet about it:
“Nathanael!, Philip said, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip simply replied, “Come and see.” (John 1: 45-46)
Church, how important it is that we possess a “come-and-see” courageousness with the ones around us! See, Nathanael was already seeking God inwardly. He had a holy curiosity. But contrary to what we oftentimes think, Christ didn’t have outward credibility with him. After all, no one worthwhile comes out of Nazareth!
Hear this, however: Even though Nathanael didn’t know Jesus, he knew Philip…and through Philip, Nathanael found Jesus.
Dare I say it again? A future disciple’s transformation may merely
depend on your invitation to, “Come and see.” Studies suggest that the
majority of people who are part of a church are there because someone was invested
enough to invite them first.[1].
Isn’t your friend and your faith
worth enough for you to follow suit? For
Christ’s sake, I pray it is.
It’s your move, Philip.
[1] Glover, Dan and Claudia Lavy. Deepening Your Effectiveness. Discipleship Resources, 2006; pg. 15