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| Vol. 12 No. 9 September 2010 | Page 14 |
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| Vol. 12 No. 9 September 2010 | Page 14 |
Are You an Andrew?
Mark McWhorter
Andrew was one of the twelve apostles. However, before he became an apostle, he was a disciple of Jesus. Before he was a disciple of Jesus, he was a disciple of John.
In the first chapter of the book of John, we are told that John told Andrew that Jesus was the Lamb of God. Jesus then invited Andrew to spend the day with him. After doing so, Andrews was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. He went, found his brother and excitedly told him that the Messiah had been found. Andrew, then, brought Simon and introduced him to Jesus. Simon became the great preacher, Peter. Andrew may not have been a great public speaker, but he helped convert a relative who was.
You may have heard the account of when Jesus fed over 5,000 people with just a few fishes and loaves of bread. All of these people had followed Jesus to a place away from any town. All became hungry. The fish and bread belonged to a small boy. This boy gave his food so that many could eat through the miracle of Jesus. It was Andrew who brought the boy to Jesus. Evidently, Andrew had met this boy earlier and knew that he had this food. Andrew made this boy famous even though we do not know his name. The important thing about the account is the marvelous miracle Jesus performed. Yet, we also see that Andrew was observant and was able to use resources that were available. We also learn that no matter how small a person may be, there is always something he can offer to help others believe in Jesus.
In John 12, we read about some Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the Passover. They approached Philip, telling him they would like to see Jesus. Philip went to Andrew. Then, the two of them took the Greeks to Jesus. Andrew was involved in bringing these foreigners to Jesus.
Are you involved in bringing others to Jesus? Are you involved in showing others that they can do something to spread the Gospel? Are you an Andrew? Study your Bible. Obey it, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
David A. Sargent
“Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?” When these questions were asked, they were likely intended to be rhetorical questions. It is expected that a mother would not forget, neglect or harm her nursing child, and that a mother would always feel love and compassion for the children she has borne. Sadly, such is not always the case.
A joint funeral service occurred in Orangeburg, South Carolina, for 2-year-old Devean C. Duley and 18-month-old Ja’van T. Duley. What happened to these two little brothers? Investigators say that the boys’ mother suffocated her two young sons on a Sunday night after a fight with her own mother, then strapped their bodies into her car and rolled it into a river so it would look like an accident. “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?”
In the Greek language, the original language of most of the New Testament Scriptures, there are different words that have been translated “love” in English Bibles. One of the words is “storge.” This love refers to the love that is shared among members of a family, like the love of a mother for her children. When the word is used in the New Testament (Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3), it is preceded by the Greek letter “alpha” which negates the word. It is translated “without natural affection” (KJV), “without love” (NIV), “unloving” (NKJV) and even “heartless” (CEV). In both instances when the word is used, it describes those who have forsaken God, and as a result, have traveled deep into the vileness of sin (see Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Yet, consider the initial questions in the context in which they were originally asked: “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15). These words were from God through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel. These words also reveal God’s love for His people today.
Even though we are stained with the guilt of sin, God loves us and wants each of us to be His child (Romans 3:23). He gave His only Son to die on the cross for our sins (Ephesians 1:7), so that we might have the opportunity to become His children. By placing our trust and faith in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31) and confessing His name before men (Romans 10:9-10), we can be baptized (immersed) into Christ to have our sins washed away and to be added to the family of God (Acts 2:38, 41, 47).
God will never stop loving us! The closer we get to God, the more we will love our fellow man, especially our families. Won’t you respond to the great love of God by becoming His child today?