“Organized religion is not for me,” a friend said to me recently. I have been praying for this friend’s salvation for more than 15 years, and every time we get together I pray that God will use me to lead her closer to Jesus. But she still seems so skeptical, and I’m afraid of saying anything that might sour our relationship.
I wonder, Will my friend ever come to believe in Jesus?
Nathanael was skeptical about Jesus when his friend Philip shared excitedly, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth” (John 1:45). But Nathanael said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
Nathanael’s response is understandable. All of us have a tendency to jump to conclusions based on past experiences and preconceived ideas. His perception of the people of Nazareth was negative; he didn’t see how any good could come from that village—including Jesus. And he couldn’t consider the possibility that Philip knew what he was talking about.
But Philip was undaunted. He said, “Come and see for yourself” (John 1:46). And surprisingly, Nathanael conceded. Perhaps he was searching for answers to life’s questions, and so he thought, “Why not give it a try?”
Soon Nathanael and Jesus had an amazing conversation—one in which Jesus showed divine knowledge to Nathanael. And like a light switch being flipped on, Nathanael suddenly exclaimed that Jesus was “the Son of God—the King of Israel” (John 1:49).
God knows how to reach the heart and mind of a seeker. So let’s continue to pray for our loved ones. And, like Philip, let’s continue to invite them to “come and see.”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 2:1-23
More:
Read Isaiah 55:1-11 for the Old Testament equivalent of “come and see.”
Next:
What makes it difficult to reach a skeptic for Jesus? What gives you encouragement as you reach out to those who are far from Him?
gary1schelvan on May 3, 2015 at 8:37 am
Thank you Poh Fang Chia for your thoughtful posting. I have several loved ones of my family, that I pray for a living relationship with Jesus to become an every day part of their lives. I think a lot, of the urgent imporatnce of their being right with our Lord Jesus, a matter of “eternal life.” So as you said, “Let’s continue to pray for our loved ones, invite them to come inside and see!” Bless you and your family..I’ll keep praying for mine..Hallelujah!
joycemb on May 3, 2015 at 11:07 pm
Thank you it is so good to be reminded that God answers in His time and in His way. I have seen people I prayed for many, many years come to faith in Christ in ways I would not have imagined. God’s got this, I try to remind myself when I pray for others. And another reminder I give myself also is that God loves them very much more than I ever could. That fills me with hope and thanksgiving at the same time.