Today’s Reading: John 1:47-51 (NIV)
47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathaniel asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathaniel declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believed because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Memory Verse: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)
Good day!
When I was eight years old, my parents purchased a piano and had it delivered to our home. It sat in our living room, where I spent hours sitting on the bench, practicing and playing music. One of the first hymns I learned to play was the great Negro spiritual, Jacob’s Ladder. The song was easy to play and sing because there were only four major chord changes in the song. The rich harmonies filled our home and wafted out the open screen door into the front yard. The words to the song stayed with me all day long. I found myself singing them out loud on my way to and from the bus stop at school. I imagined I was climbing with the angels on that ladder of life which stretches from heaven to earth. I am a soldier of the cross.
When Philip found Nathaniel, he could hardly contain the good news: “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the law and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathaniel ran with Philip to see for himself whether this man was indeed, the Son of God. Don’t you wonder what song Nathaniel was singing as he made his way down the dirt path toward the Lord?
Jesus welcomed Nathaniel in a most unusual way. He said, “Now here’s a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” Nathaniel couldn’t figure out how Jesus could possibly know anything about him. He thought they were strangers, meeting together for the very first time. “How do you know me?” Nathaniel asked with great curiosity. Jesus said, “I saw you under that fig tree before Philip ever called you.” It was at that moment when Nathaniel recognized Jesus as the Son of God, the King of Israel. When did you first realize who Jesus really is? What words did He speak that changed your life forever?
As we look for God to make a way for us to introduce Christ to the strangers in our lives, we can take a welcoming lesson from the Lord. Jesus immediately focused upon the condition of Nathaniel’s heart. Christ knew Nathaniel was an honest man. When we meet new people for the first time, we may not know anything about them, but we do know they have a heart that God loves. How do we welcome the stranger? Are we willing to look beyond our first impressions and focus upon the condition of their hearts?
I invite you this morning to take a look at a blog site written by one of my pastors. Jeff Brinkman is a United Methodist minister serving
We climb Jacob’s ladder every day: at work, in school, and even at home. We are bound to pass a few strangers along the way. It only takes one brief encounter to leave a lasting impression. How will you choose to offer the love of Christ to the stranger in your midst?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC -
Dear God, help me to welcome others the way you welcome me. Amen.
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