The Power of Invitation

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

 

 

Holy Week was only a couple of weeks ahead and my sister Cecilia was at her College’s Bible Study meeting, where she was preparing to become a teacher. She didn’t attend a church regularly, so her college’s Bible study was the only place to grow spiritually.

 

One day she accepted the invitation of her Christian friend to his Methodist Church, where she heard about a youth camp during Holy week just ahead. She was so excited that she told me about it. “You have to come with me”, she said, “You have to experience God’s love as I do” she insisted.

 

I finally accepted and soon understood what she was talking about, the most transforming experience ever. The campsite was the outskirts of the city; there I heard the gospel for the first time at the bonfire. My soul became enraptured; my heart was convicted of sin, and amazed at how this great and good God forsake heaven to die in my place at the cross. It was exactly as Cecilia had described, I found my Savior.

Dear God thank you for the “Philips” who constantly seek “Nathanaels” and invite them to “come and see”. Raise up more “Philips” within our congregations so that the world may know there is a Savior who has seen them “seated under the fig tree” and longs for their encounter. Amen.