Finding Philip, He said to him, “Follow Me.” John 1:43
During the Epiphany season our eyes focus on Jesus as the Light of the world, revealed in many miraculous ways. In John’s Gospel many people had encounters with Jesus. How did they respond?
Jesus finds Philip and simply says, “Follow Me.” No other introductions. So far only Peter and Andrew have been called as disciples. An absolute call. No strings attached. No explanations given. Simply “Follow Me.”
Philip obeyed. He accepted Jesus’ call. Immediately he went to Nathanael and told him that they had found the Messiah. A response of faith in Jesus as Savior, and witness to a friend.
Jesus likewise finds us and simply says, “Follow Me.” He comes to us in our baptism, in His Word, and in Holy Communion. “Follow Me.” For life. Day-by-day. Without reservation.
How do we respond? We may insist on knowing more details, on qualifying our answer, but He continues calling, “Follow Me.”
The motion picture “The Hiding Place” recounts a real call to discipleship. During World War II the ten Boom family lives in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, where Jews are being captured and exterminated. They are faced with the decision of whether to hide Jews in their home. They decide they must obey by hiding Jewish refugees in a secret room. Ultimately, when detected, they pay dearly.
God worked in Philip’s heart to follow Jesus. He moved Corrie ten Boom and her family to do the same. And He sent His Son to pay for our sins by dying on the cross so that we might follow Him as well.
PRAYER: Jesus, lead us and guide us as we live our lives in obedience to You. Amen.
(Devotions from “My Daily Devotion” by Dr. Stephen J. Carter, copyright 1988, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. For ordering information, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Job 20-21 Matthew 11
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