Are We Willing?
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
(1 Peter 3:15)
- Are we willing to join Christ on the harvest field?
- Are we willing to go out into the world and plant His seed?
- Are we willing to live the holy and sanctified life He has called us to live?
- Are we willing to live in obedience to God?
- Are we willing to really see others as Jesus sees them, to love them in Jesus’ name, and to serve Him as we seek to meet the needs of others?
- Are we willing to go wherever God calls us to go? To speak with whomever God’s Holy Spirit leads into our path? To be the church of the living God?
Are We Willing?
In pondering these questions, I read in the Bible where Jesus was calling others to follow Him. One man Jesus called was a bit skeptical. He had heard of the Messiah, but when he heard about this Jesus from Galilee, his skepticism grew. This reminded me of when God called me to Him, way back when I was a teenager. I remember it well, or let me say, I remember well the uncomfortableness I felt when Jesus was standing and knocking at my heart’s door. The last thing I wanted to do was attend church, and for sure, the very last thing I desired was the invitational song that came at the end of the pastor’s message.
“Oh, hurry,” I remember thinking.
“If I can just think of something else,” I remember wishing.
- Do you know how hard it is to NOT THINK about GOD?!!!
- It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to NOT THINK of GOD!!!
That’s just what I attempted to do whenever we came close to the invitational call to be saved. I thought of everything: the way my hands looked as they held onto the back of the pew in front of me; the lunch mom had created; what I was going to do later that day; what my friends had going on during last week; and the color of the interior of the church building. ANYTHING & EVERYTHING—BUT GOD!!!
Today, I read about the man Nathanael who was from Galilee, the same place where Jesus just happened to be.
Coincidence?
I think not!
Nathanael found Philip, a friend of his, a man who was a follower of Jesus. Is it coincidental who God places into our paths today?
I think not!
Nathanael knew some of the Bible, the prophets and the first books of the Bible. He had heard of this man named Jesus, and he knew enough to know where Jesus came from—Nazareth. Jesus knew Nathanael BEFORE Nathanael really knew Jesus. Even before Nathanael and Jesus met, Jesus knew he would be there—in Galilee because Jesus is the Son of God.
Nathanael’s good friend, Philip invited him to come, to see this Jesus, who was there, in town, with them.
Coincidence?
I think not!
Jesus is always seeking to save the lost.
Jesus is always loving the lost—just where they are at that moment of their lives.
Jesus is always pursuing, always knocking upon our heart, always desiring that the lost will come to know Him.
Jesus is always—On Time!
There are no coincidences with Jesus!
There is only the providential working of Almighty God!
- Are we there, looking for opportunities to serve God?
- Are we there, with arms lifted high, open-handed, and ready to receive the blessings of Jesus as we are led to witness to the lost and dying world?
Are We Willing?
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’
Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’
Nathanael answered Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.’ “
(John 1: 47-49)
Jesus saw us—Before we accepted His offer of salvation.
Jesus saw us—Even when we were wandering in darkness and skeptical.
Jesus saw us—When we were lost and headed to hell.
Jesus saw us!
&
Jesus loved us—too much to leave us in that state; Jesus knew we needed Him.
Jesus saw Nathanael that day—right where Nathanael was “under the fig tree.”
Jesus did not say to Nathanael, “Go, clean up your life and then come follow me.”
No. Jesus did not push away this man!
Instead, Jesus said, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1: 48b)
In Danny Gokey’s melody “We All Need Jesus,” this artist sings these lyrics to help remind us the greatest need every human being has while we live here on earth.
“We all, We all, We All . . . Need Jesus.
Need Jesus.
Need Jesus.
Need Jesus.
Every human being . . .
24—365—We All Need Jesus.”
“We All Need Jesus”
- Are we willing to join Christ on the harvest field, to go out into the world and plant His seed?
- Are we willing to live the holy and sanctified and obedient life He has called us to live?
- Are we willing to really see others as Jesus sees them, to love them in Jesus’ name?
- Are we willing to BE the CHURCH?
- Are we willing to go wherever God calls us to go?
Are We Willing?
The apostle Peter reminds us how we are to live.
- May we take our Christian-walk seriously.
- May we live on-mission every day, even this day.
- May we be willing to give our testimony, telling how we were lost and are now found.
- May we be ready to speak of the ONE who is our HOPE.
- May we speak and live and follow Jesus.
- May we BE WILLING!
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
(1 Peter 3:15)