What Do You Want?
Opening Prayer
Lord God, You are the author of life and truth. Open my mind and heart to Your truth today.
Read John 1:35-42
[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” (which, when translated, is Peter). Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What was "the first thing" Andrew did for Peter?The two disciples follow Jesus at a distance. Imagine their surprise and confusion when he turns to face them. “What do you want?” Embarrassed, they blurt out, “Where do you live?” “Come and see,” he replies (see vs. 38,39). Discipleship may begin with cool observation, but it will always lead to encounter and engagement. And it can get quite hot! Jesus’ questions sometimes take us by surprise. Not, “Will you do this or that for me?” but, “What do you want?” Or, in other words, “What can I do for you?” And once we respond, we can never say where things will end, except that life will never be the same again. Jesus looks at us and his eyes hold our attention. His gaze is disturbing, but his plans are exhilarating. He says to Peter (and to you and me), “You are … You will be … ” (42). Think what happened to Peter (John 21:15-19; Acts 2:14-41)! What do you want? You may want many things—health, peace of mind, direction. All are legitimate requests, but what about asking for an encounter?
Apply
Answer for yourself Jesus’ question to those disciples. Then, go right to Jesus and ask him for it.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, give me the desire to want to know You and love You more and more each day.
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