Day four!

John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Come with me.” (Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.) Philip now went off to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the Messiah!—the very person Moses and the prophets told about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth!” “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from there?” “Just come and see for yourself,” Philip declared. As they approached, Jesus said, “Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel.” “How do you know what I am like?” Nathanael demanded. And Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Nathanael replied, “Sir, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” Jesus asked him, “Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater proofs than this. You will even see heaven open and the angels of God coming back and forth to me, the Messiah.”

Food for thought!

Today is Day Four of Jesus' first week on the job; his public life. For many people, this is day two from the long holiday season; some people are still struggling to recover from the two long weekends of Christmas and First of January. In any case, as you go back to your fig tree (your place of work), remember that Jesus watches you. When Nathanael was wondering how and when could Jesus know about him, he replied: “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Jesus is telling Nathaniel that he is no ordinary man; that he is God, and because he is God, he knows everybody, he sees everyone, everywhere, everyday. And Nathaniel was quick to learn this truth about Jesus. This is why he immediately confessed, “Sir, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” Now Nathanael knows that God knows him.

Do you have someone in life who seem to understand you, someone who really knows you? Someone who can guess your thoughts and even sometimes your words? Someone that can read your mind? Well, this is what Jesus is telling you and me on his Day Four.

So, as you resume your work, remember this: When no one is watching you in your work place, work as if someone is; when no one is watching you as you drive your car around, drive as if someone is; when no one is watching you as you make your prayers, pray as if someone is watching you; if you are buying, remember that Jesus is watching you as much as he watched Nathanael. Remember that Jesus promised to be with us ALWAYS. He asked us to remember this: "I am always with you until the end of time." (Matthew 28:20). He is always, not some of the times, not some of the places, but always watching us from a distance.

Psalm 139
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it.You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.
This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!
How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.