Andrew

by Toms, A. F. | Category: Some Of Peter's Companions | Mar 1986

Most of us can think of persons who've influenced us for good in some way or another, perhaps by theft example or by things they've said or done. And we thank God for them. Sweet influences in our lives. I'm sure there must have been many people for whom Peter would give thanks and probably no one more than his own brother Andrew.

So we begin with Andrew, because he was the one who first introduced Simon Peter to the Lord Jesus. Andrew seemed to have a particular aptitude for this. I think of him as a friendly sort of man, easily approachable. You may remember when the Lord Jesus fed the multitude it was Andrew who introduced the lad with five loaves and two fishes. I wonder, had he come up to Andrew offering his picnic lunch to the great Teacher? And later on, when those Greeks came to Philip, saying "Sir, we would see Jesus" (John 12:21), Philip didn't quite know how to handle the situation. So he went to find Andrew. Re would know what to do! He's usually referred to in the Bible as Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Some might have resented always playing second fiddle to a better-known brother. But it didn't seem to bother Andrew. His brother became a great preacher,

and on the day of Pentecost God used him to turn three thousand to Christ. But Andrew was the sort who led others to Christ one by one. Both kinds of workers are needed.

It was through Andrew's good work that Peter first met the Saviour. It says a very fine thing about him in John chapter 1, when he started to follow the Lord Jesus himself. "He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah". He brought him to Jesus. Isn't that lovely? He could have done his brother no greater service. He found him and brought him to Jesus. A few verses further on in the chapter we read of Philip doing the same for his friend Nathanael. He found him and encouraged him to come and meet the Lord Jesus.

Finding and bringing. I leave those two words with you today. George Dempster wrote a book which he called "Finding men for Christ". Who could you find and bring to Christ? Someone in your own family perhaps, who doesn't yet know Him in this personal way, or a neighbour or friend, or colleague at work? There are so many all around us, who are losing out because they do not know Him. They need us to find them and bring them to Him.

Toms, A. F. | Mar 1986
Some Of Peter's Companions