Unless your religion is worth passing on to others, it isn’t worth anything at all to you. Disciples of Jesus Christ, claiming that His perfect sacrifice at Calvary is the means of eternal salvation, surely have something to share to mankind. The world cannot be won to Christ just by preaching the Gospel from the pulpit in a church. Genuine believers must venture into the world in various places and professions to propagate the Good News.

In the Gospel of John, two specific men had something to share with others. An inner compulsion compelled them to voice the conversion that had taken place in their own lives. These two examples knew how to explain their experiences.

Andrew brought his own brother Simon Peter to Jesus. “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). Philip found his friend Nathanael and told him that “we have found Him, of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote” (John 1:45). Both of these men acknowledged that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Andrew and Philip both participated in the feeding of “about five thousand” (John 6:5-10) men beside women and children, and soon would comprehend that Jesus was the “bread of life” (John 6:35, 48). During the feast of Passover, certain Greeks came to worship in Jerusalem and desired to see Jesus. They came to Philip; Philip came and told Andrew. They knew exactly what to do. “Andrew and Philip came, and they told Jesus” (John 12:22).

Christians are saved to serve not to sit. Opportunities to abandon self-centeredness are abundant if believers would allow God to open doors to assist the sick, the imprisoned, the homeless, the educated as well as the uneducated. The joy in soul-winning cannot be overestimated. Seeing a person change from despair and degradation to delight and devotion will thrill any complacent soul.  Jesus saves a sinner from eternal damnation and shows that life with Him matters; it can be most meaningful. Even the angels rejoice “over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

Pray that the national workers of Slavic Missionary Service will follow the examples of Andrew and Philip. May God open for them “a wide door for effective service” (1 Corinthians 16:9) so that they may proclaim the Gospel, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).