Pause for thought
As we pause today, we join with the praise of all God's people in these words from Psalm 19.
The law of the Lord is perfect; refreshing the soul.
The commands of the Lord are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it.
The laws of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart,
The commands of the Lord are just and give understanding to the mind.
(Psalms 19:7-8)
Bible Reading: John 1:40-42
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed 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.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John.
You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).
A Reflection:
Good news is worth sharing, whether it is the birth of a child, an exam passed or a new job. But what better news is there to share than finding God’s promised Messiah, his ‘anointed one’ who was to come and save not just the Jewish nation, but the whole of mankind? That was the news that Andrew had to share, and where better to start than with his own brother.
Are there members of your family and friends who have not put their faith in Jesus? You may not find it as easy as Andrew did to share your faith, but are their ways in which you could share your faith with those who are closest to me?
Andrew became a follower of Jesus before his brother did, and yet it was his brother whose relationship with Jesus would eclipse that of Andrew. Simon Peter would become one of Jesus’ inner circle of three, Peter, James and John, and even here Andrew is defined as ‘Simon Peter’s brother, not the other way around.
Are there people in your family, friends or work colleagues who have become more prominent or more successful than you? Can you rejoice in this rather than feeling jealous or overlooked? Let us remember, we are called to be faithful, not successful.
When Jesus met Simon he recognised him as ‘Simon, son of John’ but changed his name to ‘Peter’, which actually means ‘Rock.’ In looking at Simon, Jesus saw beyond his family, beyond the fisherman, beyond a man who opened his mouth and put his foot in it and beyond the disciple who would deny him. He saw the man who would be integral in building the Church of God.
The same is true for each of us. When God called you, he saw beyond who you were, beyond what you have done and beyond what you will do. He saw the person that you would become through faith in him and in the knowledge of his unconditional love for you.
Pray:
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your grace that accepts me as I am, and for your love that changes me to become the person you have created me to be.
Amen
Lord, I come to you