Confidence In My Calling | Following Jesus

Apr 19, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Lamb and the Question

Two men stood with John the Baptist when he pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” They left John immediately to follow Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them, He asked, “What do you want?” They called Him “Teacher” and asked where He stayed. Jesus replied, “Come and see.” They spent the day with Him, then Andrew ran to tell his brother Simon, “We found the Messiah!” [01:04]

Jesus’ question cuts through pretense. He didn’t ask about their résumés or qualifications—He asked about their deepest desire. Their answer revealed humility: they wanted to learn. That day with Jesus transformed Andrew from a follower of John to a bringer of people to Christ.

What do you truly want from Jesus? Not what you think you should want, but the raw hunger beneath your religious habits. What if you answered Him honestly today? What is one thing you’ve been afraid to ask Jesus for?

“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus… [Jesus] asked, ‘What do you want?’ They said, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’ ‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’”
(John 1:35–39, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to clarify your deepest desire—then surrender it to His purpose.
Challenge: Write your answer to “What do you want?” on a note. Keep it where you’ll see it daily.

Day 2: From Simon to Stone

Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus. The moment Jesus saw Simon, He renamed him: “You are Simon… you will be called Cephas” (Peter, meaning “rock”). Simon—a man known for reacting to every impulse—received a name declaring steadfastness. Jesus saw not who Simon was, but who he’d become through grace. [15:26]

Names matter. Jesus didn’t tweak Simon’s habits; He rewired his identity. Peter later denied Jesus three times, yet Christ still called him “rock” after the resurrection (John 21:15–17). Your failures don’t cancel God’s naming—His grace rebuilds you.

Many of us still answer to old labels: “failure,” “nobody,” “damaged.” But Jesus calls you “chosen,” “beloved,” “witness.” What old name do you need to shed to embrace His name for you? Whose voice still defines you more than Christ’s?

“Andrew… found his brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’… Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon… You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).”
(John 1:41–42, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one lie you’ve believed about yourself. Ask Jesus to replace it with His truth.
Challenge: Write your name on paper. Beside it, write the name Jesus gives you (e.g., “Loved,” “Forgiven”).

Day 3: The Bridge-Maker’s Confidence

Andrew appears three times in John’s Gospel—each time bringing someone to Jesus. He brought Peter (1:41), the boy with loaves (6:8), and Greek seekers (12:22). No miracles, no sermons—just steady introductions. While Peter walked on water, Andrew walked in obedience. [21:43]

Confidence isn’t about spotlight moments. Andrew trusted that small acts matter: a conversation, a shared meal, a quiet invitation. Jesus multiplied his “five loaves and two fish” faithfulness into miracles. Your ordinary obedience is holy ground.

Who needs you to bridge them to Jesus this week? A coworker? A straying friend? Your own doubting heart? Don’t compare your role to others’—bring what you have. Who’s one person you can intentionally point to Christ today?

“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish…’ Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’… They all had enough to eat.”
(John 6:8–11, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for someone who brought you closer to Him. Ask for courage to do the same.
Challenge: Text one person: “Can I share how Jesus helped me this week?”

Day 4: Follow the Flashing Lights

The team bus in Miami, lost and fearful, finally followed police cars with sirens blazing. The officers shouted, “Follow me!”—clearing every obstacle. Confidence came not from the driver’s skill, but the authority guiding them. [06:44]

Jesus says, “Follow Me” through life’s chaos. Like those officers, He doesn’t promise a detour around danger but authority through it. Your peace isn’t in perfect circumstances but in the One who says, “I am the Way” (John 14:6).

Where are you white-knuckling control instead of following His lead? Finances? Relationships? Health? His “Follow Me” includes provision for the journey. What situation do you need to stop steering and start trusting?

“Jesus said, ‘I am the way… No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
(John 14:6, NIV)

Prayer: Name one area where you’re resisting Jesus’ lead. Ask Him to help you release it.
Challenge: Write “FOLLOW ME” on your wrist. Each time you see it, pray, “Jesus, I trust Your path.”

Day 5: The Lion and the Lamb

In Lucerne, a stone lion commemorates Swiss soldiers who died serving foreign kings. Their gifts were auctioned, their loyalty divided. But when Switzerland embraced neutrality—refusing to sell their swords—their identity became unshakable. [44:12]

God’s call on your life isn’t for sale. Compromise whispers, “Adjust your values to fit in.” Jesus says, “You are Mine.” Like John the Baptist, decrease so Christ can increase. True confidence stays anchored when crowds applaud or attack.

What part of your faith have you “auctioned” for approval? A silent stand here, a quiet compromise there? Where do you need to reclaim your loyalty to Jesus alone?

“Am I now trying to win human approval, or God’s?… If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
(Galatians 1:10, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one way you’ve sought human approval over obedience. Ask for boldness.
Challenge: Write “I belong to Jesus” on a card. Place it where you make key decisions.

Sermon Summary

John chapter one unfolds as a call to confidence in following Jesus. John the Baptist points to Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” and two of his disciples leave him to “come and see,” modeling a decisive reorientation of allegiance. The narrative contrasts human applause and crowded followings with the certainty that comes from knowing Jesus’ identity; true confidence springs from the name of Jesus, not from public affirmation or status.

The story of Zechariah and the naming of John shows how agreement with God’s promise restores voice and purpose. Naming functions as transformation: Simon becomes Cephas (Peter), signaling a shift from reactive living to a new, anchored identity. Andrew’s quiet faithfulness provides a practical portrait of discipleship—no spectacle, yet indispensable. Andrew brings others to Jesus, supplies the loaves and fish, and bridges people into encounter without seeking credit.

Several practical dangers receive attention. Comparison corrodes calling; measuring life by others produces insecurity and steals joy. The crowd’s favor proves fickle—the same crowd that praises can quickly abandon or condemn—so applause must never define vocation. The Swiss mercenary example dramatizes the peril of selling one’s gifts to the highest bidder: a gifted calling forfeited for temporary gain leaves a wasted future. Instead, the text insists on private obedience and living for an audience of One.

Markers of genuine confidence appear plainly: the ability to celebrate others without envy, steadiness amid changing circumstances, obedience when unseen, and joy untethered from external events. Confidence manifests as peace, stability, and boldness rooted in Christ’s calling rather than worldly metrics. The narrative closes with an invitation to embrace Jesus, accept the new name and identity he gives, and commit possessions, reputation, and calling to him alone. Following Jesus reorients identity, silences comparative noise, and secures a life of faithful, private obedience that bears public fruit without craving applause.

Key Takeaways

1. Confidence rests in Jesus’ name Certainty about Jesus’ identity rewires priorities so allegiance shifts from human approval to divine calling. Trusting the name of Jesus removes the need for crowd-driven direction and anchors bold obedience. Confidence in that name allows relinquishing personal ambition for kingdom purposes. [09:45]
2. Embrace the name God gives Receiving the name God assigns changes inner story and outward behavior; identity determines destiny more than history or labels. A divinely given name displaces inherited shame and world-assigned roles, enabling new responses anchored in purpose. Living under God’s name reorients choices and relationships toward faithful fruit. [16:23]
3. Refuse the comparison trap Measuring worth against others corrodes calling and redirects effort into envy or imitation instead of faithful vocation. Comparison disguises insecurity as discernment and dulls conviction, stealing time and joy that belong to one’s own race. Compare only to Jesus; let conviction prompt repentance and renewed pursuit. [23:49]
4. Obey privately; silence the crowd Public acclaim proves unstable; private obedience sustains calling when applause fades. Choosing an audience of One protects calling from market pressures, prevents selling gifts, and preserves long-term fruit. True confidence shows in quiet, repeated faithfulness rather than performance. [31:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Turning to John 1 and Easter reflections
[01:04] - Reading John 1:35–41
[02:05] - Decisions determine life and eternity
[03:55] - Miami bus story: lacking confidence
[06:05] - Police escort illustration: follow me
[07:18] - What is confidence?
[08:43] - Behold: seeing and responding
[10:28] - John’s confidence in the Lamb
[13:30] - Zechariah, John, and restored voice
[14:01] - Peter’s name change and identity
[20:19] - Andrew: the bridge to Jesus
[23:49] - Comparison steals calling
[31:12] - Silence the crowd; audience of One
[38:08] - Swiss mercenary story: don’t sell calling
[44:12] - Signs of true confidence
[46:08] - Invitation to follow Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 1:35-42 (ESV)
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Observation Questions

What specific action did John the Baptist take when he saw Jesus walking by, and how did his disciples respond? (John 1:35-37)
What did Andrew do immediately after spending time with Jesus, and what name did Jesus give Simon? (John 1:40-42)
According to Galatians 1:10, what two options does Paul present about whom we aim to please?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think John the Baptist’s disciples left him to follow Jesus after he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God”? What does this reveal about true confidence in ministry?
Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter (meaning “rock”). What might this signify about how God’s calling reshapes our identity and purpose?
The sermon warns that comparison “steals calling” and breeds insecurity [23:49]. Why is comparing ourselves to others particularly damaging to our faith and obedience?
How does seeking human approval (Galatians 1:10) conflict with living as a “servant of Christ”?

Application Questions

What labels or names from your past (e.g., failures, others’ opinions) do you need to release to fully embrace the identity God has given you as His child? [16:23]
When have you fallen into the trap of comparing your gifts, relationships, or achievements to others? What practical step can you take this week to refocus on Jesus instead? [23:49]
Andrew brought people to Jesus and served quietly without recognition [20:19]. What is one way you can act as a “bridge” for someone to encounter Christ this week, even if no one notices?
The Swiss mercenary story warns against “selling” our calling for temporary gain [38:08]. Are there areas where you’ve prioritized external validation (e.g., work, social media) over obedience to God? How can you recalibrate?
The sermon highlights “private obedience” as the foundation of confidence [31:52]. What’s one habit or discipline you can cultivate in private to strengthen your trust in God’s voice over the crowd’s noise?
How would your daily decisions change if you lived solely for an “audience of One” (Galatians 1:10)? Give a specific example from your current priorities.

Sermon Clips

31s

#ComparisonStealsJoy

“See comparison is a thief. Comparison don't make you better, it makes you bitter. Comparison don't make you feel better about yourself, it makes you feel bad about yourself and envious of other people. It never provides you with security. It also always provides you with insecurity. Here's the thing, if the compare if the culture is comparison, the default in your life will always be insecurity.”

40s

#RunYourRace

“Comparison is a thief. It will kill your joy. It'll kill your it'll kill your it'll steal the finish line from your life. It'll take years and still time that you don't have an you don't have that much anymore and I'm finding out that the three gray hairs in my face this morning, I'm running out of time. I don't have time for that anymore. Comparison cannot exist in our life. You have to run your own race. Find fulfillment in Jesus. Be who God has called you to be in your life.”

41s

#ApplauseIsntGod

“Say it like this, is if your confidence and your directions comes from an applause, it will always lead to a collapse. What happens is many of us will take the affirmation of the world and the pat on the backs of the world and think, man, if I'm getting affirmation from people around me, it must be God. But can I tell you, it's not what's happening in this John chapter one?”

29s

#FollowJesusFirst

“The only thing that matters in your life this morning and forever from this point forward is are you following Jesus today? Are you who he's called you to be? Don't wait for affirmation from everything that this world wants to define as success, and the world defines success as status, as being first place, as promotion, but in the kingdom of God, the success and confidence we have comes from being able to say, you know what? I'm not first. I don't mind being last today.”

28s

#ConfidenceInTheLamb

“What happens? His two disciples stopped following him and they turned and they followed Jesus. John understood that in my life, if I'm if the gospel if I'm gonna have confidence in the gospel of Jesus, I've got to take a step back so that God could take a step forward in my life. The confidence that John had was not in the crowd that followed him, it was in the lamb of God that was in front of him.”

34s

#BeAnAndrew

“You may not be the one who comes into the room and Jesus gives you a name and a platform and you find yourself seeing miracles like walking on water. That may or may not happen in your life, but can I tell you every single person in this room can be an Andrew Because what Andrew Andrew wasn't the voice in the wilderness? Andrew wasn't the one who walked on the water, but Andrew was the bridge that when he found Jesus, he went and brought people from from where they were and said, hey, it's not about me, but look at this man that I've encountered.”

29s

#BridgeNotFame

“How am I supposed to be confident? And can I tell you that when you what is a sign of confidence in in your faith today? Is that if you're willing to step out and be a bridge that brings other people to the confidence you found in Jesus. So Andrew in the bible actually, every time in the book of John that we see Andrew, he's known as the brother of Peter, but he's always bringing somebody to Jesus.”

28s

#IdentityInChrist

“That confidence that I am a child of God. I'm not a slave to sin. I'm not a slave to this world. I haven't lost my mind. I have a sound mind the bible says. I am not lost, I have been found. I'm not an orphan, I'm a child of the most high God. I'm not wandering in the wilderness. I know who I am and I know where I'm headed because I know who my God is.”

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