Come and see … hear … touch!
by Pastor Peter Bean
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Philip answered, ‘Come and see’ (John 1:46b).
Read John 1:43–51
And then there were four! Doubled in a day. Oh, if it were so easy to make disciples today. Perhaps it is, if we simplify things. Note Philip’s invitation: come and see. No pressure on Nathanael. Simply a description of Jesus, then an invite to come and see for himself.
Philip has already caught on to what Jesus is doing. No pressure. Simple invitation. And when we think about it, isn’t that how God (not the church necessarily) works with us? A simple invitation. Come and see! Come and hear! Come and touch!
All the great gifts our amazing God presents to us come down to these simple invitations.
Come and see! The heavens and earth tell the glory of God. Is God not present in the sunrise, the sunset, the amazing views of nature and creation wherever you may be in the world? Open your eyes. See the intricacies of a spider’s web, the creative potential of a seed, the power of an ocean wave, the majesty of a mountain top, the generosity of a friend. God at work. God inviting.
Come and hear! The wind swirling in the trees. The next moment whispering through a bush. Reminding us of the Holy Spirit, blowing here and there with reckless abandon (see John 3:8). Hear the symphony of bird song in the morning; the music that pulsates with emotion (whichever form that may take for you); the laugh of a little baby; the voice of comfort. God at work. God inviting.
Come and touch … taste … and smell! The hug of a loved one; the texture of a leaf; the soft fur of a puppy. The nutritious meal provided by loving hands; the freshness of a ripe peach; the sweet elixir of a morning coffee (or tea). The newly baked loaf of bread; the fresh air of a cool morning after a stifling day; the aroma of a rose in bloom.
God at work. God inviting.
Jesus began sharing love with simple invitations. God continues that in the world in which we live. In everyday miracles. In everyday presence. In everyday love. Come and see. Come and hear. Come and touch.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your presence in so many ways. Open our senses so we may respond to your invitation, and see, hear and taste love in all its forms. Amen.
Peter is often out tending his garden – with 83 fruit and nut trees and extensive native bushes, he says there is a lot to do! Other times, he will be walking his dog, reading (too many books at a time), enjoying his family (15 grandchildren), and occasionally writing – poetry, opinion pieces, devotions! He also tries to fit in a bike ride each day. To keep out of mischief, he is currently teaching himself to play the piano and is writing a paraphrase of each psalm. You can read these on his website, Creative Walking.
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