Message

Andrew is referred to twelve times in scripture. Six of those times he is referred to as Peter’s brother. Only once is he mentioned without any connection to Peter. It goes without question that Andrew lived in the shadow of his brother. Natives of Bethsaida in Galilee, Andrew and Peter were fisherman. In John 1:29-34, Andrew is introduced to Jesus through John the Baptist and immediately begins following Jesus. From that moment on, Andrew worked to bring other people to the Savior. He first finds his brother telling him, We have found the Messiah! It has been said that the contents of John 1:40-42 most characterize the life of Andrew.

He brought Peter to Jesus. Peter would become the bold leader of the apostles and write two books in the New Testament, but it was Andrew that brought Peter to Christ. While Andrew may be overshadowed by the leadership qualities of Peter, he was extremely important to the cause of Christ. God needs not only great leaders, but great followers. He needs not only great preachers and public speakers; but quiet personal workers in the kingdom! He has been called “sympathetic Andrew” because of his interest in other people. He immediately shared what he learned with someone else. Let us realize that Jesus calls people to be His disciples for what they can do for Him and what He can do for them!

From time to time, we sing a hymn that says, Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today, He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way; He has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how he died. He has no help but our help to bring them to His side. Jesus can take ordinary people and use them to do great things for His kingdom! God knows that it sometimes takes an Andrew to reach a Peter.

Each member of our congregation plays an important role in evangelism. This upcoming week holds a great opportunity to invite someone to church during our gospel meeting with Lowell Sallee. This is a chance to let others see the hope that lives within you. Think of the blessings you have because of Jesus. Do you want to share these blessings with others? How important is it to you for your friends to find and experience what you have in Christ? The most important thing that can happen in a person’s life is to follow Jesus! We want people to visit with us so they can see the hope that exists in serving God.

Can others see the hope within us? Our hope in Christ needs to be such a force in our lives that people see our hope and ask about it! We need to be able to explain that hope! It starts with letting Jesus control our lives through God’s word. It can be seen in the way we handle trouble or suffering. It is made manifest through our gentle and reverent behavior. When people see us committed to being God’s kind of person; when they see us with a living hope; they will want to come and find in Jesus what we have found!

Tradition says that Andrew preached in a province where the governor’s wife became a Christian. The governor disapproved of her faith and when she refused to renounce her faith he had Andrew crucified on an X-shaped cross. It is said Andrew hung alive for two days and continued to preach the gospel—still trying to bring people to Jesus. Are we earnestly working to bring others to Jesus?

Matthew Allen

mhallen@sbcglobal.net