Bring Them In

Someone once asked me the question, “Which person in the Bible do you think you are most like? And which person in the Bible do you WISH you were most like?”

It’s an interesting thing to think about. Those two questions can give you both interesting insight into how you feel about yourself, but also the hopes and dreams you have for your future.

As I’ve asked the question, “Who do you most relate to in the Bible,” I’ve heard a number of really interesting answers. One person said they feel a lot like Nicodemus at times: so eager and interested to know more, but still a part of them that is “ashamed” to be seen with Jesus. Another said they feel a lot like Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi: life hit them hard and they had to figure out how to continue on in life after it felt like they lost everything.

When I have thought on these questions over the years, I have, myself, continually been reminded that I have many “Peter-esque” qualities…and those qualities aren’t the good ones. I find an interesting mirror reflecting back my impulsivity, how quick I am to speak, and how passionate I can be. Sometimes those things can be good, but usually I find that I haven’t used those strengths the way God designed them. It’s interesting to see the flaws in Peter and realize those same flaws exist within myself.

Despite who I have always related to in the Bible, I always loved the second question asked: “Which person in the Bible do you wish you were most like?” For a very long time, my answer was Paul. Paul, who was once named “Saul”, was once an enemy of God. He persecuted the church, but when he had an encounter with Jesus, it radically changed him. He spent his entire life sold out to God, preaching the Word of God.

Paul is an admirable character in the Bible, but the more I read the Bible, the more people I find that I wish I could be like. Recently, I was reading in John, and I found myself completely drawn to one of the disciples: Andrew. John 1:40-42 says, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” which means Christ. He brought him to Jesus.”

He brought him to Jesus.

Andrew is a man who can always be found bringing people to Jesus. This isn’t the last time we see Andrew employed in the business of bringing people to Jesus. In fact, there are only three times Andrew is at the center of the story in John. The first, Andrew brings his brother to Jesus. The second is in John 6:8-9, where Andrew tells Jesus of the boy with the loaves and fishes and brings the boy to Jesus. The third is in John 12, when the Greeks are wishing to see Jesus. Philip finds Andrew, and Andrew takes them to Jesus.

What a thing to be remembered for.

Andrew brought people to Jesus. Interestingly enough, he wasn’t a part of Jesus’ “inner circle” - Peter, James and John. Andrew isn’t present on the Mount when Jesus is transfigured. He’s not the one seen walking on the water and getting out of the boat or being scolded for asking to sit at the right hand of Jesus. It seems that Andrew was content to simply be one of the twelve. He was a man who was blessed to be with Jesus. He was a man who saw the power and the miracles and KNEW that he was with the Messiah, and Andrew wanted others to feel the same.

Andrew couldn’t keep Jesus to himself.

What if we all lived our lives like this? When confronted with the question of who we are like from the Bible, what if our answer was Andrew? What if we didn’t crave the limelight and the attention, but rather just were content to have Jesus in our lives. What if that joy and contentment so drove us that we simply couldn’t help but bring others to Him?

Trust me, I’m talking to myself here, too.

This is the call for us all. We must live our lives sharing the Joy that is Jesus. We must let the contentment, joy, peace and love that we have found drive us. We have a gift that can so transform our lives, we will never be the same. This gift is simply not one we can keep to ourselves.

It is a light to be shared.

It is the greatest song we can sing.

It’s the greatest story we can tell.

Jesus is the greatest Joy we will ever encounter.

Today, may you all find yourselves reflecting Andrew in this way - that we may be bringing others to Jesus!