Daily Reading: 9 February
(from www.christianaid.org.uk)
Follow me.
Something to read
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’
- John 1:43 from full reading John 1:43-51.
Something to think about
I wonder if you remember the moment you decided to follow Jesus? Are you like Philip? Was there clear moment where you felt Jesus invite you to follow him? Perhaps it was a more gradual process, and while you know that you follow Jesus, you couldn’t point to a single moment where you consciously made that decision.
While we can’t all identify a moment when we chose to follow Jesus, what matters is what happens next. How do we respond to accepting Jesus’ invitation to follow him? Philip went straight to Nathanael and told him who he’d found. It began a chain of events by which Nathanael also became a disciple. Nathanael had to suspend his disbelief that anything good could come out of Nazareth before he could accept Jesus for who he was. I wonder if anything stops you following God’s invitation to you to take the next step?
In our journey to follow Jesus, we have to trust God every step of the way, knowing that each step leads us to a deeper place of trust, a deeper relationship with God. It opens possibilities for what God can do with our lives next, possibilities to build God’s kingdom.
Something to do
Read the ‘Campaign news and events’ page of the Christian Aid website. What is happening in Christian Aid’s campaign work at the moment and what can you do to join in with it next?
Something to pray
God of invitation,
Jesus invited the disciples to follow him,
to give their lives to the service of your kingdom.
You invite us to follow you and serve you too.
Strengthen us by your Spirit to accept this invitation,
to go where you lead us,
to build your kingdom
to fight for justice and a better world for all,
for your glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Today’s contributor is Andy Stinson. A disciple, husband, dad, deacon and priest. Andy is Rector of Barrow (near Chester) and Worship and Liturgy Missioner for Chester Diocese at the time of writing.