The Power of Invitation

When Billy Sunday was 18, he was recruited to play for a fire brigade baseball team in Marshalltown, Iowa. Within three years, he was playing professional baseball with the Chicago White Stockings. Then, in 1886, Billy was invited by a friend to a Chicago street corner to listen to an evangelist share the Good News about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. That invitation made a profound impact on his life. After some time, Billy submitted his life to following Christ. Just three years later, he turned down a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Phillies to accept a full-time ministry position with the YMCA. From that time on, Billy Sunday committed his life to inviting people to “Come and See” how Jesus could change their lives.

In John, chapter 1, Jesus did the very same thing. He reached out to a group of fishermen with no formal education and invited them to “Come and See.”

There is power in an invitation! Deep within every human heart is a longing for relationship, meaning, purpose, value, and truth. The disciples who followed Jesus weren’t just looking for a teacher; they were searching for meaning. They were simple fishermen but had a desire to be known. In the same way, people today are seeking. Some may not realize it, but their hearts are drawn toward something far greater than themselves. They are searching for a right relationship with God—even if they don’t know it.

People Are Seeking an Invitation!

“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they spent that day with Him. (John 1:39)

A simple invitation can change a life for eternity. Jesus didn’t overwhelm these fishermen with arguments or doctrines; He simply invited them to “Come and See.” A word of kindness, a gesture of welcome, or a simple “Come and See” can open the door for someone to encounter Jesus and move from spiritual death to spiritual life.

Listen Closely: It’s easy to think that inviting others to “Come and See” is only reserved for the outgoing, for pastors, priests, or bold personalities. It isn’t! The truth is that obedience to God and love for others are far more powerful than personality traits. Jesus calls each of us to share His love—not based on our ability, but on His authority and our willingness to be faithful.

Who in your life is seeking today? Who is waiting for an invitation from you? Like Andrew and Philip, I encourage you to be bold and loving enough to simply say…

“Come and See.”