This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of the Fresh Start Series: I Have a New Perspective (WATCH HERE)
For the last devotion of the week, let’s go back to the main Scripture and notice one word that appears three times in the first verses:
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “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.”
Did you find the word?
If not, reread it again and see if you can find it.
Still lost, maybe look a little harder until you FIND it.
(Don’t you love teachers that give a hint of the answer! )
To make sure you found the right word, the word is find/found (same root, different tenses). Like you just did to find the word, the word “find” implies intentional searching for someone or something.
When you got separated from your parents in the store and someone helped you find them again, you weren’t looking for any generic person, you were looking for your parents and you searched until you found them.
Usually when you search for something and find it, you are elated, relieved, or just filled with joy because you found something that was lost.
The whole course of events starts with Jesus “finding Philip.” The heart of Jesus was intent, for whatever reason he had, to find Philip. He wanted to end Philip’s search for what he was looking for: the Messiah promised and prophesied of in the Old Testament. We just have the simple words, “Follow me” spoken to Philip, but however God’s Spirit worked on his heart it was enough to be certain that Jesus was the one he was looking for.
Then like any great find, you want to share what you found with someone else.
So Philip does. The heart of Jesus takes over Philip’s heart and he wants Nathanael to find Jesus too. So Philip looks for Nathanael until he finds him and then proclaims to him, “We have FOUND the one…Jesus of Nazareth!”
The heart of Jesus is to reveal himself to every person. His heart is defined by what he said in Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” He emphasizes it in parables such as the parable of the lost coin.
Luke 15:8-10 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
What Jesus has done for you…found you…he desires to capture your heart as it did Philip. Jesus found Philip. Philip found Nathanael. Jesus wanted both to know he was the one they were looking for.
This is the perspective that Jesus desires us to have as well. The people around us are ones Jesus came to die for. The people around us are searching for answers in life. Some don’t even know what they are looking for or perhaps have given up looking. Either way, the heart of Jesus and his perspective on people is the heart we desire to have so we too love to find people and connect them to Jesus.
Apply: Who do you know that you want to know Jesus or know him better? What are options to intentionally connect with them to connect them to Jesus?
Prayer: Jesus thank you for your heart that sought me to connect with your love and grace. Use me to do the same with others, always reflecting your heart to others. AMEN.