How The Lord Works

Devotion

1-19-10

How the Lord Works

It seems that every child I have had the honor of introducing to Jesus has surpassed me in their walk with the Lord.  The challenges I faced as a child became the lessons I would teach to others and in turn allow me to introduce them to Jesus and follow Him.  The amazing thing about this is that they each now have more powerfully advanced walks with the Lord and an understanding of His word today, than I did when I was their ages. They have become teachers, social workers, investors, entrepreneurs, youth minister’s wives, etc and they use their lives to serve God right were they are. Now they are introducing others to Jesus. But then again that is how the Lord works.

 

It is much like our school teachers.  They work endless hours preparing, teaching, grading, encouraging, inspiring, and disciplining children. Yet, they receive little honor or pay for what they do. Often they feel used up and unappreciated; however, all it takes is to have that one child who takes the lessons they’ve learned, from the teacher who introduced them to a person or a subject that powerfully changed their lives, so that they grew to become pastors, missionaries,  leaders of our country, great men and women of God, Nobel Peace Prize winners, doctors who found a cure for a disease, a soldier who saved another man’s life, a mother who raised godly children, a great author, artist, musician, an inventor or perhaps they become teachers themselves, and they reveal the source of their success as being the teacher that inspired them. This is when teachers understand how meaningful their jobs have been. But then again, that is how the Lord works.

 

In the book of John, Jesus shows us this same kind of teaching taking place when Andrew learns that Jesus is the Messiah and goes to tell or teach his bother this truth.  Andrew introduces his brother, Simon, to Jesus and therefore Simon receives Jesus and Jesus blesses him with a new name, Peter.  Peter becomes a great follower and teacher of Jesus. This must have made Andrew happy to know his obedience to tell his brother about Jesus fulfilled God’s plan to use Peter.  In that same chapter Jesus finds Philip who goes to tell or teach Nathanael that Jesus is the Messiah. Nathanael believes and Jesus is in awe of his belief and tells him he will see the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Philip must have felt a since of joy knowing he had taught and brought Nathanael to Jesus. Do you see how Andrew and Philip were used to teach, to introduce Peter and Nathanael to Jesus and in turn those two men were chosen by God to be used to reveal His glory.  But then again, that is how the Lord works.

 

He uses each of us as teachers of some kind, all called to introduce Jesus to someone else.  We do not know who the person we introduce to Jesus may be in God’s plan, but we can be sure that they are chosen by God for something even greater than we know.  Someone you know right now needs to hear that Jesus is the Messiah because He wants to change their lives, to show His glory through them, to raise them up for a special calling in His ministry and to give them life.  You too were chosen by God and He used someone else to introduce you to Him. Because this is how the Lord works.  He uses us to tell others so they can be used by Him to save a lost world.  He uses me to tell you, so He can use you to tell someone else, so they can be used to do something powerful for Him. Wow! I love how the Lord works.

Let’s take a closer look at this idea of introducing others to Jesus.  Read John 1:40-51 out loud.

 

In verse 41 what did Andrew tell his brother? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

After telling his brother he had found the Messiah what happened? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

So the two steps that were taken were: First he told him about Jesus and second he introduced him to Jesus.  This is a perfect outline for you and me.  First we must go and tell others about Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us, then we introduce them to Jesus, lead them in praying to Him the prayer of salvation.

 

Now take a look at how Philip met Jesus.  Who went to Galilee and found Philip? (v43) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Wow, Jesus, Himself, found Philip and said “Follow Me.” This is very important, so let’s not miss this point.  No matter who introduces us to Jesus, Jesus has sought us to follow Him.  Even though Andrew and Philip brought Peter and Nathanael to Jesus it was the Lord who inspired them to go and get them.  Jesus already knew Peter and Nathanael would accept Him because He was seeking them through using Philip and Andrew, just like He uses you and me to bring others He is seeking to know Him.

 

To make this point clearer take a closer look with me at verse 48.  Write it below.

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What was Jesus’ answer to Nathanael’s question as to how Jesus knew him?

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Did you see that? Jesus said “Before” Philip called you. Jesus was already working on Nathanael’s spirit even before Philip got to him.  Yet, He used Philip to tell Nathanael about Him.

This is what the Lord does when He sends us out to tell others.  He has already prepared the hearts of those He wants us to tell.  He has a plan and we are part of it. 

 

Jesus asked Nathanael a question in verse 50, what is it? _________________________________

It pleased Jesus to know that all it took for Nathanael to believe was in knowing that He saw him even before Philip came to him. Because of his belief Jesus promised him he would see even greater things.

 

Do you believe? Do you know the Savior? Did you realize He already sees you and is willing to accept you right where you are? If you have never met Him let me introduce you to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  If you do know Him, go and teach, go and tell, introduce someone to Him today, they may be the one who reaches your loved ones.  After all this is how the Lord works.