DATE POSTED
Thursday, January 23, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) and found in John 1:41-43; 45; 47-48;

THE SCRIPTURE READS
⁴¹ Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).⁴² Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). ⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”
⁴⁵ Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
⁴⁷ As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” ⁴⁸ “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I was once reminded that when an unsaved person asks you about things of the Lord, know that the Holy Spirit is working on that person, for Satan would never incite his follower to do such a thing! So when you wake up one morning and decide to visit a church down the road, don’t assume that you are doing your pesty friend a favor to get them off your back, just be obedient to the Holy Spirit and visit the house of the Lord. Unfortunately, believers in Jesus Christ, and especially unbelievers, find every excuse in the books to avoid the voice of the Holy Spirit and stay away from church attendance or even being around committed believers willing to share their ‘Jesus’ story. However, having shared that, I want you to meditate with me carefully about the cases in our Scripture today, and try to apply this to real life as you experience it today. Notice that Jesus found Andrew, and Andrew immediately had a desire to go and find his brother, Simon. Hopefully in your case, Jesus found you, and you were convicted of your sin after realizing that Jesus was the only source of Eternal Life, and you surrendered your life to His lordship. But, after this miracle of new birth took place, a new life in communion with Jesus Christ, I hope that it was too good to just sit and sour in the church pews, so you immediately thought about others who needed the same joy that you found in knowing Jesus, and you started asking Jesus for open doors to introduce them to your Lord. Like Andrew, I hope that you decided to go in search of that brother, pray for him, and invite him to join in your new-found faith. Now, notice how Jesus shows us about the new life and amazing opportunities He has in store for us. He changed Andrew’s name to better reflect the image of what he was to become in his new-found relationship with Christ, and his new kingdom work. Just imagine, Peter would be known as a ‘rock’ that would represent the solid footing believers would have in Jesus Christ. Ever wondered why so many church names include the name of this great disciple – ‘Peter’? Part of our salvation experience is in turning from our life of sin and the world, to a life dedicated to, and patterned after, our Lord and Savior. Unless this change takes place, it is impossible for others to see the handiwork of Jesus in us, and our lives would not properly represent the Savior in whom we are verbalizing that we have placed our trust in. Next in today’s Scripture, we see where Jesus found Phillip, and He invited Phillip to follow Him. While each of us are super important to God, He may often have much bigger plans for us than we could ever imagine. For I believe that Phillip had an immediate mission, to reach out to Nathaniel, a somewhat outspoken Israelite. Plus, Jesus had a teaching moment for all those already following Him, when He showed Nathaniel how much He already knew about him, even before they ever met in person. Friends, the story of the cross has a very similar message. For Jesus went to the cross for ALL mankind. The ones who attend church and can’t make a decision to accept Jesus, and for those who are deep in sin and see no need for Jesus. Yes, Jesus died for me, even while I was still a sinner. Dear friend, Jesus knows your name, and He knows how many invitations you have already avoided, shunned, and declined, to come and know more about Him. Yet He willingly went to the cross and died a criminal’s death, so that He could fulfill the mission of His Father in rising again so that you, I, and all mankind could have our sins forgiven, and ready us for Heaven. Jesus showed this compassion to Nathaniel, and He is reminding us again today, that He is the only way to see the Father. In John 3:16 we are reminded that for all who believe in Him, we will see God – we will have eternal life! Know Him today precious friends and know that peace that exceeds all human understanding! Prepare now so that we all may kneel together at the feet of our Father in heaven one day – soon!

PRAYER
Dear Lord, I am reminded once again that just as You sought after these first disciples, You are still seeking after the hearts and lives of men and women today that are destined to fulfill Your kingdom work right here where we are at. Thankfully, You got my attention many years ago and You have been faithful through every circumstance of life. So many times I can reflect on the mystery of Your handiwork, the miracles wrought in so many areas of my life and that of my family, friends and church. Some who will meditate on this devotional will identify where they are at in their spiritual walk today. I pray that all will follow in the example of these first disciples, by dropping everything to follow You. From every indication, the day of Your return is sooner than any of us would care to acknowledge. Oh that we would be ready to hear Your ‘WELCOME HOME’ greeting and Your compassionate acknowledgment ‘WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT’. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!