Under Gods command

Under Gods Command

John 1:47-49 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Phillip called you.” Then Nathaniel declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

Jesus knew about Nathanael before the two ever met. Jesus also knows what we are really like. An honest person will feel comfortable with the thought that Jesus knows him or her through and through. A dishonest person will feel uncomfortable. You can’t pretend to be something you’re not. God knows the real you and wants you to follow him.

Under Gods Command

John 1:46 – “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Phillip.

When Nathanael heard that the Messiah was from Nazareth, he was surprised. Philip responded, “Come and see.” Fortunately for Nathanael, he went to meet Jesus and became a disciple. If he had stuck to his prejudice without investigating further, he would have missed the Messiah! Don’t let people’s stereotypes’ about Christ cause them to miss his power and love? Invite them to come and see who Jesus really is. Jesus is real cool dude.

Under Gods Command

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)

Andrew accepted John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus and immediately went to tell his brother, Simon, about him. There was no question in Andrew’s mind that Jesus was the Messiah. Not only did he tell his brother, he was also eager to introduce others to Jesus. How many people in our life have heard us talked about our relationship with Jesus?

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 22:12 – The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

“Knowledge” refers to those who have knowledge, those who live right and speak the truth. It takes discipline, determination, and hard work to live God’s way, but God protects and rewards those who make the commitment to follow him.

Under Gods Command

John 1:35 -39 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come, “he replied, “and you will see.”

One of the two disciples was Andrew. The other was probably John, the writer of this book. Why did these disciples leave John the Baptist? Because that’s what John wanted them to do-He was pointing the way to Jesus, the one John had prepared them to follow. These were Jesus’ first disciples, along with Simon Peter and Nathanael

When the two disciples began to follow Jesus, he asked them, “What do you want?” Following Christ is not enough; we must follow him for the right reason. To follow Christ for our own purpose would be asking Christ to follow us-to align with us to support and advance our cause, not his. We must examine our motives for following him. Are we seeking his glory or ours?

As they got to know Jesus, their appreciation for him grew. The more time we spend getting to know Christ, the more we will understand and appreciate who he is. We may be drawn to him for his teaching, but we will come to know him as the Son of God. Although these disciples made this verbal shift in a few days, they would not fully understand Jesus until three years later (Acts 2). What they so easily professed had to be worked out in experience. We may find that words of faith come easily, but deep appreciation for Christ comes with living by faith.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 21:13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

We should work to meet the needs of the poor and protect their rights-we may be in need of such services ourselves someday.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are directed by the LORD, How then can anyone understand his own way?

We are often confused by the events around us. Many things we will never understand; others will fall into place in years to come as we look back and see how God was working. This proverb counsels us not to worry if we don’t understand everything as it happens. Instead, we should trust that God knows what he’s doing, even if his timing or design is not clear to us.

Under Gods Command

John 1:34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.

John the Baptist’s job was to point people to Jesus, their long-awaited Messiah. Today people are looking for someone to give them security in an insecure world. Our job is to point them to Christ and to show that he is the one whom they seek.