Most important words

In John chapter 1 we find a very familiar story, one of which we have probably all heard at one point or another. Jesus is found doing his normal thing, just wandering and teaching (as was his custom) when two of John's followers decide to follow Jesus instead of John. One of these men was named Andrew.

Andrew, overtaken by emotion of finally finding the Messiah, runs to his brother Simon to tell him of his miraclous discovery. It is there, in verse 42 that we find some of the most encouraging and challenging words of the entire Bible:

"and he brought him to Jesus."

Andrew stopped at nothing to bring his brother to the Christ. He did everything in his power to make sure that his brother Simon was to meet this amazing man.

When I read that I can't help but get a bit convicted. We live in a society and culture that, for the most part, doesn't know Christ -and in a lot of cases- simply doesn't care to.

Within the realm of youth ministry we are being told that there are now more young people (ages 10-18) on the planet than ever before, but we are seeing the lowest number of salvations in recent memory. Something doesn't add up to me. When I think about the things that our young people are facing on a daily basis, things that adults (even twenty-somethings) would never have dreamed of when they were young, I get very heavy hearted. Young people are crying out for help and we hardly ever take the time to listen. They cry out through their selection of music, clothes and their most current Facebook or Twitter statuses and we are often too concerned with the affairs of the church that we fail to reach them.

God forgive us!

True hope is only found in Christ...nothing more, nothing less. He is the only one who can truly life their burdens and set them free.


We should all take a lesson from Andrew and stop at nothing to bring the lost to faith in Christ.

Serve your King,
Steven