Title: Faith without deceit / John 1:43-51
Contents Faith without deceit / John 1:43-51
Key Verse: “Behold, this is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit” (verse 47).
Word: Among the 12 disciples of Jesus, there is one disciple who was praised by Jesus. That's Nathanael. Jesus commends Nathanael for his humanity, saying, “Behold, this is a true Israelite, and there is no deceit in him.” From Jesus, who knows even the hearts of men, “You are truly an Israelite. I can't see any lies in it.” The only person who was praised was Nathanael. When Nathanael prayed under the fig tree, after hearing Jesus' words that he had already seen himself and knew his own heart, Nathanael confessed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God and the King of Israel." ‘Under the fig tree’ was a place of prayer that pious Israelites often went to when they wanted to pray in secret. In other words, for the Israelites, the place to pour out the most honest hope and deep pain in their hearts was under the fig tree.
Guys, you definitely have to. Do you go to church because of the table field? Or is it because of God's love? Are you a Christian because you truly love God? Or is it because of the years of trust? Those who followed Jesus with the desire to have a place in the kingdom of God and the disciples all stumbled on the night that Jesus was arrested for their impure motives. However, through the resurrected Jesus, the newly discovered disciples of Jesus finally come to love Jesus with pure motives. And only then will we be able to fully devote ourselves to the kingdom of God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, truly now, help us to love You and follow Jesus with a pure heart and a pure motive. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Lord's Prayer