If you frequent social media you may have encountered Bob. ‘This is Bob’ is a popular meme which generally describes a specific thing that ‘Bob’ does or doesn’t do, reminds us that ‘Bob is smart’, and then encourages us to ‘Be like Bob’. If you’ve never seen one, there’s a typical example on the right.

As far as following someone’s good example is concerned, I reckon we could do a lot worse than learning, not from Bob, but from Andrew who did something any of us can do – he introduced people to Jesus. Having met Jesus himself, the ’first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon [Peter]and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.’ (John 1:41-42)

Peter, of course, is the one who becomes better known, but arguably it is Andrew whose impact is greater in terms of the Kingdom of God. Andrew was the first to bear personal witness to Jesus – friend to friend; brother to brother, and this is still the way that Jesus is encountered, churches grow, and the Kingdom advances.

Notice also that for Andrew, this was not a one-off. Almost every time we see him in the Gospels, he’s introducing someone to Jesus. On one occasion it’s a boy with five barley loaves and two fishes (John 6), on another it’s some Greeks (John 12).

We should all be like Andrew! Simply inviting others to meet Jesus should be second nature to those who love and follow him. Right now, someone is just waiting for you to introduce them to Jesus. Why not make this the month when you invite them to church, or pray for a specific opportunity to share your faith with them?

Andrew is great!
Be like Andrew.