Faith

Come and See

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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 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!”

A Real Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is simply our recognition that He has been a faithful God in every season of our lives. From our rainy Spring days to our snow drifting winter nights He remains our Savior and the lover of our soul.

Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

Faces

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

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Back in 2016 the Olympic flame was carried by over 10,000 runners. The torch run which began in the capital city of Brasilia went the distance of 20,000 kilometers throughout the nation to in Rio de Janeiro. Some of the way they passed through city neighborhoods lined with crowds and others over empty farmland and forest. All along the way the torch bearers ran till Vanderlei de Lima lit the flame before a crowd of over 60,000 in Maracanã Stadium.

In that same way as we run the race of our Christian life there are some lonely times. It feels as if the finish line in Heaven’s capital city is impossibly far away. God’s word encourages us to recall that God has a stadium there also filled with the faces of those who have carried their torches before us. We have parents, and pastors, brothers, sisters, wives and children waiting and cheering us on. They weren’t all saintly and perfect people but they carried the torch to the end. They climbed the steps to the throne of God and left everything behind to finish their race. In the light of their flame of faith I can see their faces and reKIMG1137minded to trust that God will help me run my own leg of the journey one more day!