February 09, 2025

Links in a Salvation Chain

John 1:35-42

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” . . . And he brought him to Jesus.

—  John 1:41-42

The first time Sharon came to our Bible study group in Beijing, she introduced herself this way: “My name is Sharon. I’m not a Christian yet, but I want to know how to become one.”

God was obviously working in Sharon’s life before she came to our group. She was seeing Christ at work in people around her, and someone had brought her to our group. It’s something like what happened when Andrew met Jesus and then went to tell his brother Peter so that he could meet Jesus too.

For most people, coming to Christ is a process that includes many steps. God uses lots of different people in our lives, like links in a chain. As links, believers might do one or more of the following to help bring a person to Christ: showing neighborly love and care; sharing about an answer to prayer; sharing a favorite Bible passage and what it means personally; inviting the person to study the Bible; explaining the message of salvation and how God invites us to turn away from sin to receive new life in Christ.

How do you think God could use you as a link in a chain that can bring another person to Christ? Or if you’re like Sharon was, tell a Christian friend or leader, “I’m not a Christian yet, but I want to know how to become one”—and they’ll tell you!

Lord, use us to share your love and good news to help bring people closer to you. May we all faithfully draw others to find life in you. Amen.

About the author — Stan Kruis

Stan Kruis graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1984 and began serving as a missionary in the Philippines, where he met his future wife, Bessie. Together they served in church planting and leadership training in the Philippines. After completing a Ph.D. in intercultural studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, Stan returned with Bessie to the Philippines in 2014, where he taught missions at the Asian Theological Seminary in Manila. Now retired, they live in Michigan. Stan and Bessie have two married children and one grandchild.

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