I'm a great fan of J.R.R. Tolkein, author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and others. His wonderful character, the hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, reflects all of our ambivalence about adventures. We much prefer the comfort of the shire to the danger of adventures. What could be more shire-like than sitting in the comfort of your home, reading a few bible verses each day? But be careful - you never know when God's 'wizard' - not Gandalf, but the Holy Spirit - might just come knocking at your door.
Someone asks you, "What are you doing these days?" And you reply, "I'm involved in a forty-day spiritual adventure." "A what?" they ask. You explain, "I'm spending a few minutes each day reading through one of the gosples - John's to be exact." Curious, because you're not overly religious, they ask the obvious, "Why?" And you reply, "Because I'm finding Jesus to be the most extraordinary person in all of history - and in his unexpected impact on my life." What do you think their response might be?
It was just that sort of statement that led to Andrew and John's initial encounter with Jesus. and the start of their great life changing adventure. This isn't immediately obvious, because John never mentions his own name as he tells the story. But he's letting us know how it got started - out of curiosity, born of a spiritual hunger, in response to John's simple witness, "Look, the lamb of God."
It's extraordinary how asking Jesus such a simple question, "Where are you staying?" can become so life changing. Andrew and John spent the day with Jesus in response to his invitation, "Come and see." Have you ever considered doing that - spending a day with Jesus? What do you do? Well, you ask him questions and listen for his responses. Are you serious? Absolutely. How about spending one whole day in this adventure - just you and John's gospel - a day asking Jesus about himself, who he is and what he has come to do? It could be life changing.
At the end of that day, these seekers became influencers. They began to invite the people they knew who had a genuine spiritual hunger to meet Jesus. Jesus meets Peter and sees him, not for who he is, but for who he will become. When Philip introduces Jesus to Nathanel, he's every bit the skeptic. But Jesus knows what he was thinking, what was in his soul while he was sitting under the shade of a fig tree - a favorite place for Jews in Galilee to study and pray in the heat of the day. The Kingdom expands as the web of influence broadens.
What would your encounter be if you were to spend a day with Jesus? What might he say to you about yourself? What would he show you about yourself - the authentic self that he wants you and me to become out of a relationship with him? Would he crack open the heavens and let you see the supernatural dimension of God's Kingdom that's at work in and through His life? How would you evaluate the significance that your simple witness might have in seeing someone meet and begin to follow Jesus?
As John tells the story, his relationship with Jesus got started that day in Jerusalem. When he comes to the end of this story, he'll tell us, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."
Maybe, just maybe, these forty days could be the beginning, or the next step in that kind of journey for your life. But then again, maybe we're spiritual 'hobbits' who of course aren't supposed to take adventures - are they?
Someone asks you, "What are you doing these days?" And you reply, "I'm involved in a forty-day spiritual adventure." "A what?" they ask. You explain, "I'm spending a few minutes each day reading through one of the gosples - John's to be exact." Curious, because you're not overly religious, they ask the obvious, "Why?" And you reply, "Because I'm finding Jesus to be the most extraordinary person in all of history - and in his unexpected impact on my life." What do you think their response might be?
It was just that sort of statement that led to Andrew and John's initial encounter with Jesus. and the start of their great life changing adventure. This isn't immediately obvious, because John never mentions his own name as he tells the story. But he's letting us know how it got started - out of curiosity, born of a spiritual hunger, in response to John's simple witness, "Look, the lamb of God."
It's extraordinary how asking Jesus such a simple question, "Where are you staying?" can become so life changing. Andrew and John spent the day with Jesus in response to his invitation, "Come and see." Have you ever considered doing that - spending a day with Jesus? What do you do? Well, you ask him questions and listen for his responses. Are you serious? Absolutely. How about spending one whole day in this adventure - just you and John's gospel - a day asking Jesus about himself, who he is and what he has come to do? It could be life changing.
At the end of that day, these seekers became influencers. They began to invite the people they knew who had a genuine spiritual hunger to meet Jesus. Jesus meets Peter and sees him, not for who he is, but for who he will become. When Philip introduces Jesus to Nathanel, he's every bit the skeptic. But Jesus knows what he was thinking, what was in his soul while he was sitting under the shade of a fig tree - a favorite place for Jews in Galilee to study and pray in the heat of the day. The Kingdom expands as the web of influence broadens.
What would your encounter be if you were to spend a day with Jesus? What might he say to you about yourself? What would he show you about yourself - the authentic self that he wants you and me to become out of a relationship with him? Would he crack open the heavens and let you see the supernatural dimension of God's Kingdom that's at work in and through His life? How would you evaluate the significance that your simple witness might have in seeing someone meet and begin to follow Jesus?
As John tells the story, his relationship with Jesus got started that day in Jerusalem. When he comes to the end of this story, he'll tell us, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."
Maybe, just maybe, these forty days could be the beginning, or the next step in that kind of journey for your life. But then again, maybe we're spiritual 'hobbits' who of course aren't supposed to take adventures - are they?
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If we knew how dangerous,challenging and difficult the adventure would be- we might not ever start. Glad He eases us into it with his assurance, love and gentle leading.
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