Jesus asked his disciples to "follow me". That is the first step in our faith.
Have you never heard, Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28–31
Is there something deeper?
Deep inside each of us is a yearning for something bigger… a yearning for God. Sometimes, it takes a while before we realize it. Often we notice that something missing inside, or that there is a “hole” in us spiritually. Sometimes we try and fill it with pleasures and things of the world... yet we still feel the emptiness. Then one day we respond to God’s call, and we find that emptiness becomes filled by God. We begin to feel “full” or “fulfilled” as the Holy Spirit takes charge of our lives, and as we gather with God’s community (the church) and meet others growing closer to God. Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Life happens!
Life Happens! Sometimes we have a harmful event happen in our lives. This could be an illness, divorce, job loss, death of a friend or loved one, or any number of life’s tragedies. In the midst of this tragedy, we reflect on our life, and our future. We then see something missing and that we need healing. Not healing like at a medical center or something we can put a band-aid on. Instead, a deep spiritual healing that can only be provided by the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous…”
There has got to be something more?
Sometimes, we get to a point in our life where we start questioning its meaning. We go to work, we come home and eat, we watch a little t.v., play a little with the kids. Then get up tomorrow and do it again, and again, and again. We get a little older, and come to the realization that we are not going to be here forever. Or perhaps the daily routine, year after year, seems to be going nowhere. We start to say, “Life is good, but there has to be something more!” There has to be a meaning! There has to be something I can do to make a difference in this world, outside the same old routine. Then we discover that through God, life does have a meaning. We then follow Jesus and discover our own purpose and meaning. Gods love then propels us to share that love with others; feeding the poor, teaching the Bible, helping youth, visiting those in prison, and visiting the sick. We share that divine love with others, making real differences in their lives. That is Church!
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
What about me?
Maybe you are older. Your kids have moved to another state or city for work. Your own parents are ill, or perhaps have already passed on. Let’s face it, at this point in your life, loneliness is creeping in. Is there a place where I can meet others, feel the love and joy of Jesus, an be part of a real and authentic community? John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Making a difference...
Maybe I am a younger person, in school or raising a young family. Life is good and I have the whole world ahead of me. I notice that there is a big difference between what is going on in the world, and the way the world should be. Why I there so much suffering… and why do people keep harming one another? Why do we leave people hungry? Why do we keep harming the environment? This causes you to wonder, is there any place I can belong that is trying to make a difference? Is there someplace that has a vision of the world that consists of God’s love, peace, as well as the sustainability and preservation of God’s creation? Is there someplace that is moving to bring justice to what can sometimes be a very difficult and unfair world? Micah 6:8. He has shown you, oh mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
What journey are you on?
Life is a journey. God created us to form a loving relationship with Him. We do this throughout our lives, walking this journey together, and growing ever closer until one day, we are completely filled with the love of God. This is a journey that cannot be done in isolation. The world throws too many curve balls at us and life is filled with too many things that will try to take us off the path we are on. Instead, it is a journey we walk together, building each other up, strengthening our faith, and continually growing in the knowledge and love of God… together. Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life…
Let us transform the world together, beginning with me!