Come and see
“And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:46
Many of Jesus’ disciples were called personally by Jesus Himself, but some were brought to Him by the invitation of the other disciples. Nathanael was invited to “come and see” by Philip and he came to know that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and followed him.
Philip looked for Nathanael one day to tell him that they had found the One they were waiting for. To say Nathanael was skeptical would be an understatement. You can hear in his response to Philip’s invitation the doubt and unbelief that was in his heart. Philip was very wise in his answer to Nathanael’s lack of enthusiasm. He didn’t try to convince him or argue with Nathanael based on what Philip had experienced himself, he simply said, “come and see for yourself.” It wasn’t long at all before Nathanael was 100% convinced of Philips’ claims when he met Jesus personally.
This same approach can be used today when sharing your faith with others. It can be intimidating to come right out and say, “Jesus is my Savior” or “I’m a Christian”. Saying things like that can sometimes cause a person you are trying to lead to Jesus to shut down immediately. Then they will not hear anything else you have to say after that. However, if you have an approach like, “I know someone who has the answer to all your trouble” or “there is someone who can turn your struggles around.” Then you may have the opportunity to get another sentence in about the things your Heavenly Father has done in your life. When you get a resisting response, don’t take that as a rejection or not interested answer, simply invite them to “come and see for yourself.” Give them the option to make that choice by giving them an invitation to come with you to church or a small group meeting or an event, then they can decide if He’s real or not firsthand. Just like He did for Nathanael, He will show Himself to your invited friend in a way that will touch their heart and turn their life toward God.
Today there are opportunities all around us to invite people to a service, group or special event that your local church may be having. Let those around you know there is hope and there is help for whatever they are facing today. If the response is unbelieving, invite them to “come and see!” Then leave it up to God to show up and introduce Himself to that person that has questions. He will remove their doubts far from them.
Today’s scripture reading: John 1:43-51
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
The Daily Dose 