Journey through John 1:43-48

Good Morning Church Family – Journey Through John

Read John 1:43-48

Devo Thought: Do you know anyone who you would describe as blunt? Someone who fits the bill of “what you see is what you get”? I appreciate these kinds of people. While they often get criticized as being too direct or harsh, the truth is that you always know where you stand with them. If they don’t like you or have doubts, they don’t hide them. They just let you know what they think. While I think it is important and possible to be straightforward without being unkind, our world could use more of this kind of honesty. We need more people without hidden motive or agendas. We need more people like Nathanael. I find this interaction first between Nathanael and Phillip and then between Nathanael and Jesus refreshing. Phillip goes to witness to Nathanael, and Nathanael is very skeptical because of where Jesus is from. He doesn’t trust what comes out of Nazareth. Here’s the thing though, he doesn’t hide his reasoning for rejecting Phillip’s witness. He lays his cards on the table. So, Phillip responds by laying his cards of the table as well. He simply says, “Come and see.” This is why Jesus sees Nathanael coming and says out loud for him to hear that he is “an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” In other words, here is a man who fits the bill of “what you see is what you get.” Jesus saw him in the most real way, and he called it what it was. The thing I want you to consider again this morning is, have you been honest with God about your questions or doubts? Have you laid your cards on the table with Him? Because the truth is that He already knows (He has seen you already just as Jesus had seen Nathanael under the fig tree). Let’s be honest with God, and then I’ll invite you, just as Phillip invited Nathanael, to “Come and see.” You won’t be disappointed.

Let us pray that we would be able to be honest with God about our questions and doubts.