“Your Walk with Jesus is Your Walk with Jesus”
November 14, 2021
Text John 1:35-39 (NIV35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Jesus didn’t just invite them to one of His lectures. He invited them into His life. It is the same with us. Jesus has invited us into His life.
So what is the nature of this relationship? How would I describe something so phenomenal in simple terms to someone who was genuinely interested…
- It’s a relationship of the heart.
- It’s a relationship of purpose.
- It’s an everlasting relationship.
First, it’s a relationship of the heart…
John 1:47-49. One of Jesus’ early disciples, Nathanael wasn’t really convinced Jesus was the promised Messiah. He was a hold out. He wasn’t unbelieving because he had another agenda; he was unbelieving because he was unconvinced, not because he was unwilling to believe. People who are unconvinced are open to more information. On the other hand, people who are unwilling to believe refuse to receive the truth.
- See also Gideon and the fleece. Judges chapter 6
What is God asking me to believe about Him that seems unreasonable, or inconsistent with what I am feeling, believing or experiencing? That is a question specifically designed to increase the heart-level communication between us and the Lord.
Second, it’s a relationship of purpose…
The Christians who led me to the Lord were not out on an evangelistic mission. They were going to get ice cream from the dairy store. They had no idea they were going to meet me, and that I was going to meet Jesus.
- Just like Peter and John thought they were going to pray.
- Just like Ruth thought she was just going out to glean.
- Just like the mom who packed the boy’s lunch of a few fish and small loaves of bread had no idea she was actually preparing a feast for thousands.
- Just like the Samaritan woman thought she was just going to get water.
.Yet, every day with Jesus was not filled with dramatic spiritual events for the disciples. Some of it was just a grind. But because they were walking with Jesus, every day had the potential to be such a day. The same is true for us.
The thing we want to remember is the Lord’s voice is powerful enough to “break the cedars” (Psalm 29:5) and at the same time, we want to accept with thankfulness when He chooses to whisper. In other words, on some days the Lord makes His presence known in ways that are unmistakable. Other days, barely perceptible. He serves us the perfect balance of “wow” and “shhhhh.”
All the specifics of your life are pieces of the bigger plan God has for you.
Romans 7:4 “that we might bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:4).
Each of us has been called to bear fruit for God as a product of our fellowship with Him. It is important that we remember it is fruit for God! Therefore, it is God’s fruit to use as He pleases. It is not for us to decide how it is to be used.
Every person on earth is as valuable to the Lord as a multitude. It is no less important to Him to use the fruit from one of His people to care for one individual for an entire lifetime than if He uses the fruit to evangelize millions. Unlike the assessment of the world, in His eyes “Bigger” is not better. “More” is not greater. And “impressive” is not necessarily “glorious.”
Therefore, let us neither resist nor press when it comes to having an effect for Him. Instead, let us present ourselves to Him each day realizing the fruit we bear belongs to Him.
It’s not the SIZE of your purpose in the eyes of others that matters to God; it is your grateful acceptance of what He has given you. Grateful acceptance of how He has designed you. Of what He is doing in you, of the fruit you are bearing for Him.
Third, it is a relationship that is everlasting.
(From Pastor Dan’s Monday Morning Boost)
Sometimes when we look at old pictures of ourselves and see the clothes we were wearing or our hairstyles, it makes us chuckle or even laugh out loud. We may remember phrases we used that have long since been retired. But we didn’t think our styles or our phrases were funny at the time. No, we just knew we were “the stuff.” (Or whatever the present “in” phrase would be.)
Styles and slang change, but the Lord’s faithfulness remains the same. He has been with us in all phases, stages, and ages. He took us seriously “back then” as we prayed to Him in those crazy clothes, even though as we look back it’s hard for us to take ourselves seriously. Not just because of how we dressed and talked, but also because of some of the things we wanted, or thought were so important. He took us seriously even though He knew we would one day look back and shake our heads. And He takes us seriously today, even though one day we will look back and say, “What was I thinking?” He is the God of our past, present and future and His care for us is timeless.
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