Witnessing: An urge from within

Reading: John 1. 35-40

“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

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Hearing this testimony, two of John’s disciples went to Jesus and even stayed with him for a day. They were convinced Jesus was the Messiah.

On their return, Andrew, one of the disciples, found his brother Simon. (Andrew was, in fact, seeking Simon. NIV renders it correct… the first thing Andrew did was to find…) Andrew was so excited. He could not suppress the joy of finding the treasure- Jesus the Messiah! (Matthew. 13.44) He started “evangelizing!” He witnessed, and even brought his brother to Jesus and that ended up in Simon’s conversion!

Andrew did not wait for a theological degree so he could start witnessing. He did not wait for a “mega crusade” stage or even Charismatic gifts so that his witnessing would be effective. He was simply pouring his heart out before his brother!

Witnessing is just telling others what you have found… in Jesus. When you do it from your heart, that’s it! All who have found Jesus and stayed with him at least for a day cannot keep themselves from witnessing.

Andrew started witnessing the next morning he found Jesus. He did not wait for a “big opportunity.” He started with his own brother. Start with small. To be faithful in small things is a big thing. To him, his brother was important. The truth that I found, my brother should find also… that was his mind. Witnessing should be an urge from within.

May be Andrew was not a big preacher. (Preaching, at times, is a “head” business where words are important. Witnessing, on the other hand, is a heart business and words are not that important.) But it is Andrew who brought the little boy with five loaves of bread and two fish to Jesus (John 6. 8-9). Like wise, the first convert of Andrew - Simon Peter, his brother - became a mighty preacher who won 3,000 souls in his first sermon. I am sure Andrew would also receive a portion of the reward for that big catch on the day of Pentecost!

Prayer: Lord, help me to be your witness, everywhere, every time. Amen!
Further reading: Rom 1. 16-20; John 4. 28-42.