Words: Jesus' inviting words

John 1:35-39

"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the lamb of God!' 

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 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.'" 

First, a declaration by John the Baptist. John, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, carrying out the good works God had prepared for him to do (Eph 2). John who spent his days declaring that the kingdom of God was near, and that the Messiah would soon enter on to the scene. His life was a pouring out of himself as he lifted high the name of God, as he lifted high and exalted the kingdom of God in the face of religious hypocrite, and in the face of those who were sheep without a shepherd. The heavenly anger, and compassion, he must have felt. And to declare..."Look! The lamb of God!" The Messiah! Jesus! His disciples went. They left John. They went to follow, to seek. They declared intention as they asked where he was staying. Jesus simply replied, "Come." This simple conversation. These simple words. This is where it is at.

"Jesus! Where are you? Where are you going? What are you doing?" These are simple questions. Sometimes we seek because we are hungry and thirsty for more than this life has to offer. Sometimes we ask because we are hurt and we want more. Sometimes we ask because we are motivated out of love and we want to walk in obedience.

Sometimes we ask and then we stop listening. Sometimes we ask and we don't like what we hear.

Jesus always responds..."Come, and you will see." He gets our attention. He asks us to continue listening. He invites us to join Him. So, are you listening as someone standing on the outside of the crowd? Are you listening for the moments that interest you? Are you listening and not participating? Or are you listening intently at His feet, with your shoes on, ready to move when He moves? These words are simple, and invite us to come along.

Psalm 119...an invitation

Psalm 119:9-16
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statues as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."

John 16:13-15
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mind and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mind and make it known to you."

John 4:21-24
"Jesus declared, 'Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jesws. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers much worship in spirit and in truth.'"

Psalm 119. So long. Each part has God's law, His word, His decrees, His precepts, His utterances, as the focal point. In my simple read through this morning, as I consider my Savior, My God whom I treasure, I'm reminded of what Jesus says about the Holy Spirit and truth. The psalmist talks about treasuring, delighting in, and honoring God's words. He devours them, feeds on them, they are his life line to safety, wisdom, protection, holiness. But not only that, he sees them as a conversation between himself and God. As I get to know any friend here on earth, we talk, we explain ourselves, our dreams, and as we grow in knowledge of each other we get a sense of character, and of their soul. We have understanding of each other that continues to increase.

How is it that the Creator and sustainer of the universe invites us into that kind of relationship? To grow in knowledge and understanding of His character, but more than just understanding from afar, as if I were learning of a great hero of the an earlier time, He invites to have understanding of Him as someone close, that I'm walking through life with RIGHT NOW.

Why would I spend my time anywhere else, than in His word, having a conversation with the One that made me, sustains me, who has all wisdom of the universe because HE MADE IT; who has all wisdom of me and my family, and my circumstances, because HE MADE IT ALL.

My heart and soul are refreshed when I spend time with Him, I have wisdom for each situation, I am loved, I have peace, through it all IT IS WELL.