“Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).”

Some come to follow Christ as a result of an INVITATION.

We already noted the importance of the influence that lives can have on others to follow Christ. We mentioned yesterday the importance of investigation to discover who Jesus is, but one of the most important means of people coming to faith is by invitation.           

For years, Billy Graham promoted “Operation Andrew” as a way to invite friends and family to his crusades. Andrew was always inviting people to meet Jesus. We see this incident where he invites his brother to meet Jesus. Later he brings a young boy with two fish and five loaves of bread to Jesus and 5,000 are fed. When some Gentiles wanted to see Jesus, Philip brought them to Andrew and Andrew brought them to Jesus.            

Moishe Rosen, the founder of Jews for Jesus, admitted his wife, Ceil, is not much of a soul winner. The only people she has ever won to Christ were him and his daughters. Yet through Rosen’s witness thousands of Jews have come to faith in Christ. What if his wife had remained silent?           

Peter preached to thousands, but Andrew was the one used to invite him to Christ.           

There was a little Sunday School Union work in the rural area of White Cloud, Michigan. A layman felt led of God to invite children to Sunday School there since there was no church out in the country.  As a child my wife went to this Sunday School since it was at the end of her farm property. Judi accepted Jesus as her Savior. Then she invited her brothers to come with her. One by one all her family became believers.           

Maybe you don’t feel qualified to share the gospel with another, but you can invite someone to join you in church, Sunday School, clubs, Bible study or special events. The Holy Spirit does the rest to introduce them to Jesus.           

Application:  BE AN "ANDREW"

Prayer:  Lord, God, help me be faithful in my witness trusting You to bring it to fruition whether that is out in the world or within my own household.   Thank You, Father, for this opportunity to be Your hands and feet to these. 

Dale