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Come and See

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

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
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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 kimg1621received 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!”

Only Believe!

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Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 14:24

During a recent snow storm our friend’s son told his dad that since God had sent the snow then he would just wait for God to take it away. In the morning I sent the father this short message, “Let your son know that I waited a few hours for God, but finally I had to shovel the snow myself!”
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Jesus cannot be hurried or pressed into doing our part. The father in Mark’s gospel story had done all he knew to do. He had asked everyone he could think of for help. Now at last he stood before Jesus and pleaded for help for his son. But Jesus was not concerned only about the problem that this man could see. Jesus was at work, beneath the surface. He tenderly pressed this dad till he touched on the core issue of his struggle. He was willing to sacrifice. He was willing to humbly ask for help. Could he now be brave enough to believe?

It seems almost hard-hearted of Jesus to push this person to his limit, but Jesus saw something within him that he didn’t even know he had. He had faith! Listen closely to his prayer, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” That is a prayer God always answers!

First we believe, and then He gladly helps us with our unbelief. Drawing out this father’s faith is the great miracle.  When the miracle of faith drawn out to action in our lives is accomplished there is nothing that God cannot do!

 

“All things are possible, only believe!” Mark 14:23b

 

Not Just an Exit

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

On TV difficulties are resolved in 30-60 minutes. Whether you need a home remodeled, a criminal caught or a love found the answer appears to be just one hour away. But our real life problems feel as if they will never go away. Not even our closest friends have the answers we need and worst of all it sometimes seems that not even God is concerned about us.

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood Mark 14:2

In the gospel of Mark is a father desperate to find help for his son. He has watched over him for years, pulled him out of fires and saving him from drowning. He has tried but no friend, no family member and not even the disciples of Jesus were able to help. One of the things that I love most about our Lord Jesus is not His ability to do miracles or the amazing stories that He told, but that He stopped everything to spend time with the most ordinary of people

That day when Jesus came people maybe expected that He would give an immediate solution then go on His way. But Jesus isn’t like the super-hkimg1020ero that just helps people then flies off into the distance. Jesus cares about us and willingly comes and asks about our day. He doesn’t just come to show off His super -power but He spends time to become a part of our life.

Yes Jesus does have the answers for our needs, but He gives us more than just an exit from our difficulty. Jesus comes to be an entrance to a life together and will with us face every difficulty on the road ahead!