35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas”

Questions for Reflection:

In what way does Jesus invite you into His life .... let you hang out with Him? Can we still do that or was that just for those disciples who were with Him back then?

Can you think of someone who you can be and "Andrew" to and what does it look like today to invite someone to meet Jesus? How could you pray about being and "Andrew"?

Prayer of the Week:

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank you Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

I praise you Jesus for being so “open hearted” and “noticing me gracefully” even when I was dead in my brokenness and sinfulness. I am amazed at your “open hearted love for all people”. Jesus, I want to be as “open-hearted” as You are.

I am so very sorry that I often default to my old “sinful self” me when doing life which closes my heart to people especially when I feel, anxious, overwhelmed, angry, __________________ (fill in the blank with personal confession of any closed heartedness). When I am closed I don’t notice people gracefully … I do not love well… even those closest to me. I do not want my sinful self to take the lead and call the shots today. I now put off and renounce my old self in Jesus name!

Jesus, I now by faith, clothed in forgiveness, receive and put on my new life I have in You – my “Jesus in me” self – given to me in my baptism! Your heart in me opens me up to love people well. I want to practice today being “open hearted”. Lead me into opportunities all day to notice people – really see them with grace-filled eyes and respond gracefully. Help me bring unmerited favor in small and large quantities to whomever you lead me to today. I am your vessel bringing your grace today! The words of the apostle Paul seem so real right now, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Wow!

I specifically pray for Alpha which starts this week. Jesus, I open my heart to anyone you bring to mind for me to grace with an invite to Alpha. I trust Your grace for all the ways I will mess today up. I trust Your grace for all the ways You will work through me today as I notice people gracefully!

Amen