Come and See

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”  “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” John 1:38-39a

1542510645614_16906084-1542326163128.jpg

Jesus had a way of dealing with new followers which was a lot different than ours. He didn’t say, “Come and do” or “Come and give.” In fact Jesus began the conversation with a question, “What do you want?” Whether at the door of the church or alone on a mountain trail, God asks us every morning, “What do you want?” Am I following just because someone told me to or do I really want to for myself? His test is not about our ability to serve Him but our desire to know Him.

When we go looking for Jesus we will find Him. He knows us but He waits for us to long to know Him. Then Jesus extends the invitation, “Come and see!” Jesus wants us to get to know Him because He isn’t afraid of what we will find. Every day is an opportunity for a new discovery of His character, His will and His heart. Maybe you have received an invitation that says: RSVP. That stands for the French “Répondez s’il vous plait” – “Respond if you please. “ We have received an invitation to come to know Jesus. Jesus waits to see if we will respond. Do we really want to know where He lives? He calls out, “Come and see!”

Nursing Home Christmas

This was my first Christmas at Life Care Center since we just moved three months ago to Florida. What a blessing it has been to get involved right away in this community. Our small team went in and sang for two groups of residents today. Of course the Hipaa laws prohibit us from showing any of the people you can hear them singing. One of the highlights was a 104 year old resident who joined us in singing Silent Night! May this little abbreviated version of our visit be a blessing to you tonight. After all Christmas is all about God coming to visit those others have forgotten!

Inconvenient Love

Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand – Bodie Thoene

I just finished reading Munich Signature for the third time (over 10 years) and this phrase jumped off the page to me. What she wrote about Hitler’s rise to power could just as well apply today in a world that seems intent on eliminating inconvenient people just as the Third Reich tried to eliminate the Jews. Only today it is found where unwanted elderly are herded into institutions and downs syndrome children are eliminated before birth. Uncomfortable opinions about the Bible are criminalized and Christians get welcomed out of virtually all public venues. Easy is just doing nothing or saying anything that might interrupt our nice sweet smooth lifestyle. But then God never called us to easy. He called us to love as Jesus did! And how did Jesus love? The answer is in the shape of a cross…

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40 ESV