Read: John 1:44-49
“Hey, Tristan,” Antonio called as he caught up with his friend in the school hallway. “There’s going to be a special kids’ program at my church on Sunday. There’s going to be music and games and prizes and other cool stuff. Why don’t you come?”
“Nah,” said Tristan as he stopped to get some books out of his locker. “I’m gonna watch the baseball game on TV. Nothing’s gonna get in the way of me watching the Tigers!” He laughed. “Even if there wasn’t a game, I wouldn’t want to go to church. It seems pretty silly to me.”
“Church isn’t silly. It’s great!” said Antonio.
“Church is a big waste of time!” Tristan insisted.
“No, it’s not!”
“Yes, it is!”
“Is not! You don’t know what you’re talking about because you never—”
“Forget it, Antonio,” Tristan said as he slammed his locker shut. “I’m not going.”
Antonio felt bad as Tristan walked away. I wish he’d come, but I shouldn’t have argued with him about it, he thought. He remembered the Bible story he’d heard in Sunday school a few weeks before about Philip and Nathanael. When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael said, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” But Philip didn’t get angry. He simply said, “Come and see.”
Going to church isn’t the most important thing anyway, Antonio thought. Knowing Jesus and having a relationship with Him is what matters most. Maybe if I’m just friends with Tristan, he’ll come to see that knowing Jesus is a good thing.
“Tristan, wait up!” Antonio called, running after his friend. “Look, I’m sorry I argued with you about coming to church. I really do think you’d like it, and you should come sometime and see for yourself. But this Sunday, how about coming to my house after I get home from church? We can watch the game together.”
“Even if I don’t go to church with you?” Tristan asked in surprise.
“Sure,” said Antonio. “What kind of snacks should I ask Mom to get?” He knew it was going to be a good Sunday.
–Linda Weddle
How about you? Have you invited friends to church and told them about Jesus? If they laugh and say you’re silly, don’t argue. Keep being a good friend to them and showing them Jesus’s love. After a while, your friends may be curious and willing to come and see what your faith is all about. Best of all, they may come to know Jesus!
Today's key verse: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
Today's key thought: Be a friendly Christian
