READING: John 1-2
Of the four Gospels, John’s Gospel speaks the least of demonic activity. The spiritual battle is most often portrayed in terms of darkness vs. light (e.g., John 1:5), and the intensity of the battle is most seen the narrative of the death of Jesus. That’s not to say, though, that the battle’s not present — and here’s why: people who follow Jesus in the Gospel of John intentionally tell others about Him.
Andrew did that: “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” (John 1:41-42). Likewise, Philip "found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph’” (John 1:45). We will throughout the book of John see others who did the same.
You see, the enemy is never pleased when the people of God spread the Good News of the Redeemer. We are God’s singular plan for taking the gospel to the nations, and the enemy knows that. If he can distract us, discourage us, or defeat us, he temporarily — but not finally — experiences victory. Defeated believers are seldom the best people to tell others about the transforming, freeing power of the gospel.
The questions I ask myself today are several. First, do I as quickly tell others about Jesus as Andrew and Philip did? If not, is it possible that I’ve lost my wonder over Jesus? Second, does my evangelistic faithfulness threaten the enemy? Or, do I contribute to the darkness by simply not taking the light to people who need Christ? My prayer is that I will intentionally and passionately echo the refrains of John 1: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36) — even if my obedience puts me in the sights of the enemy.
ACTION STEPS:
- Re-read John 1:1-3, 1:45, seeing that Jesus is the eternal One of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. Be amazed.
- When was the last time you quickly went to tell someone about Jesus? Ask God to give you that kind of passion.
PRAYER: “God, give me such fervor for Jesus that I will tell others about Him.”
TOMORROW’S READING: John 3-4