Short Daily Devotions ECWA Food for the Day

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

TEXT: John 1:35-51

35. The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples;

36. and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

37. The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

38. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “Where are you staying?”

39. He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

40. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

42. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

43. The next day Jesus decided 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. Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, can Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”

48. Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49. Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50. Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.”

51. And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

(Revised Standard Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: POINT THEM TO JESUS

The following day after Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptizer, John directed his disciples to Jesus! This action is in sync with his confession that Jesus “is God’s chosen One.”

Despite the very important place John the Baptizer occupied in Israel, he demonstrated that he was only a servant called to bring people to Jesus Christ. Imagine that John the Baptizer lived in 21^st Century Africa with this great ministry. Compare him with most of our super-televangelists who are “presidents and founders” of their personal ‘business’ which they call churches.

At this point in John’s ministry, he must have concluded that this work was done and so he “must decrease” but Jesus “will increase” because that was why he came. Perhaps you are a church leader and have many followers. You must be careful to point all of them to the savior and redeemer of their souls, Jesus Christ. Resist the temptation to take the place of Jesus in their lives.

QUESTION: Is it you or Jesus Christ that is the most important factor in your life and, or, leadership?

PRAYER: The temptation to always project myself and attract people to me is always staring me in the face. I plead with You, my God, to help me overcome and always project You and lead people to You, in Jesus name, Amen.