John 1:43-49

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes) 

2) Scripture Reading: John 1:43-49

Click here to listen to the passage.

3) Devotional 

In this passage we see again the choice of following Jesus.  Nathanael initially rejected Jesus because he was from Nazareth.  He was very skeptical.  As a student of the law, Nathanael didn't think the Messiah could come from such a simple background. He had expectations of who the Messiah was. Philip proclaimed that Jesus is the Messiah.  He believed as he was asked to follow Jesus and was excited to go to Nathanel, to tell him to come and see.  As Nathanael did decide to come along, Jesus doesn't have to convince him of how he represents what Nathanael has studied and read in the law.  Jesus tells him he knew Nathanael even before he was invited by Philip.  It didn't matter how much Nathanael knew about Jesus. It's not about the information, but about the relationship.  And through that Nathanael gives his confession of faith - that Jesus is not just the son of Joseph, but the Son of God.

4) Questions to Consider

Do you know a lot about God or do you know him intimately?

5) Prayer
Lord, I want to know you deeply.  Help me lay down my expectations of you.  I recognize that you know me through and through.  Spirit of God, open my heart and my eyes so that I can see God clearly and recognize His presence in me.  I want to follow you and see what you have for me.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)

John 1:40-42

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Scripture Reading: John 1:40-42

Click here to listen to the passage.

3) Devotional 

 When Jesus meets Simon, the first thing he does is change his name.  He changes his name to Cephas, which means rock.  Here, Jesus isn't describing his character, He is declaring who he will become.  The focus of this passage is on Jesus, and how He knows you inside and out.  He knows what you are made of and when He calls you, you become transformed into His image.  You may have been called a dozen other names: loser, failure, reject, adulterer, idiot, coward, foolish, etc; but Jesus wants to give you a new name:  Holy, perfect, righteous, courageous, pure, successful, faithful, etc.  Jesus speaks into you, what you may not see in yourself.  Yet, what Jesus sees as perfect, no man can dispute.  Be who Jesus sees you as, let Him bring out image of God in you as He works in your life.

4) Questions to Consider

In what ways do I need to adjust my life to align it with Jesus?  What would it look like to be who God has made me to be, not how I see myself as now?

5) Prayer
Lord Jesus, I desire to be in the light.  Search me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way that lasts forever.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)