Hi ,

“‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,’ said Philip.” John 1:46 NIV 

Have you ever been in a store and just couldn’t find what you were looking for? I have – far too many times! 

I will search aisle after aisle, to no avail, until I finally break down and do something which goes against the very essence of being male – I ask for help.

This is a major concession on my part, so I appreciate it when the person I ask, instead of just giving me directions, actually takes me to the correct aisle and points out the product I am looking for. 

We human beings spend a good portion of our lives searching for something, many times with no real idea what we’re searching for. We just know something’s missing. What we don’t realize is what we’ve been searching for all along is God.

So we try this thing or that, read books, search the net, all in a vain attempt to fill that God-shaped emptiness inside. Finally, in desperation, we do something which goes against our very nature. We ask for help. 

Unfortunately, when we do finally take this step and ask a Christian for help in finding God, they instead inundate us with information. Prophecy. Doctrinal arguments. Scriptural references. 

I had a colleague once who, when describing his witnessing to an acquaintance, bragged, “I hit him with about 20 Scriptures in 10 minutes!” Ouch! That’s not witnessing! That’s assault! 

Too often Christians’ approach to witnessing does nothing more than get the other person’s dander up. It causes them to get defensive and fight back with arguments of their own, pointing out inconsistencies in our arguments and even in our own lives. 

What we really need, in our search for God, is not doctrine, but a loving touch and a kind word. We need someone to say, “Come and see.” Everywhere you go today you will come in contact with people searching for a God to love. When this happens don’t just give them directions. Show them the way. Put your arm around them and invite them to “Come and see!

(The above was written and kindly shared by Rich Edison)

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike & Taylor / The Open Word