“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8, NLT)
The time has arrived! We have been busily preparing for more than 40 days for this Friend Day. That preparation began in prayer—prayer for our friends, family, and neighbors to come and meet Jesus even as Andrew took his brother Simon Peter, prayer for that we might represent a positive witness to them, and prayer for our Church that we might be found faithful. That preparation has called people to go out into the neighborhoods around our church and deliver over 400 door hangers and speak to those they have encountered. Preparations have busily been made for the meal after our worship. Tomorrow the tent will be set up and, on Saturday, the tables and chairs.
This week is one of continued preparations. Each person is asked to contact those they have invited to tell them how much you are looking forward to their being here. Make the offer to pick them up and bring them with you. Perhaps you have forgotten to invite someone. Well, it’s not too late. And the time to pray has not passed! Continue to pray that we might pave the way for those who have no church home to come and find one with us. Think about what you can still do with the family and friends in your life.
Friend Day is but one opportunity for us to faithfully minister to our friends and carry out the great commission. Five times the great commission is strongly proclaimed in the New Testament. If we love someone, we will invite them to come and see Jesus, for we are to be doers of the word and not hearers only. The love Andrew had for his brother Simon.
“When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).” (John 1:37–42, NLT)