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Andrew did nothing very remarkable or world-shaking, so that history would give him star billing, but what he did do was crucial.
He went personally, to find out about Jesus for himself. He didn't take even John the Baptist's word for it. He followed Jesus and got to know him personally, and part of that discovery was that he immediately told his brother of the one he had found. His brother was none other than Simon, the big fisherman - a rough, tough, man's man, a natural born leader. And Andrew's first act as a Christian was to tell his brother and bring him to Jesus. Then an even more telling thing, he immediately took a back seat! He got out of the way and let Jesus and Simon meet face-to-face. And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:42
Can I be personal? Does that make you want to spit? You do all the work, you were there first, and immediately it is your brother who gets the limelight. You are pushed into the back seat and the one you went to the trouble of introducing to Jesus now gets all the star billing. If you agree with that, you are in real need of help. You have missed the whole point of Andrew's model of a Christian. Simon was the responsibility of Jesus now - not Andrew. When people are brought to Jesus it's not you who deserve the praise and the limelight - it's Jesus. Jesus knew that Simon was more like quicksand, so in a superb joke he re-named Simon 'Rocky' (there never was a less rock-like man!). But one day he would be - Jesus would see to that - not Andrew.
Most power struggles in Christian churches and communities arise from ignoring this one simple thing which Andrew put into practice - Point to Christ, and get your own little self out of the way! "It takes more grace than man can tell To play a second fiddle well."
God doesn't call all his servants to be leaders or soloists, and there are fewer prima donnas than ever they dream. God calls us to play our part and create harmony.
A Prayer:
I lay before you, Lord, all my relationships this day.Let all dis-harmony, rivalry, and jealousy, be washed clean out of me. By your humble love for
them, and for me.
Now read Peter's words about it in I Peter 3:8 to 4:19
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