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In the Word
The First Disciples Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He
walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him speak, and they
followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do
you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher),
"where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where
He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One
of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah"
(which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at
him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is
translated, A Stone).John 1: 35-42 NKJV
John gathered a following. That happens when you are using your gifts to serve others.
But John didn't forget that he was a witness. Instead of basking in the adoration of his
disciples, he called their attention to Jesus.
False teachers can be gifted in what they do as well. They sometimes will gather a
following. The problems come when their paths and Jesus' paths diverge. Although,
nothing is wrong with saying, "Follow me, as I follow Christ," true witnesses tell their
followers, "Follow Him."
Just as John pointed his disciples to Jesus, once the disciples began following Him, they began to call others to Jesus. Andrew took his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus. If we
faithfully exercise our gifts, we will draw others. We then can take them to Jesus, and
they, in turn can take others to Him. This is the way the kingdom grows.
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