February 28, 2013

John 7:35
The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him?"

The great storyteller, Luke, in the Gospel that carries his name, chapter 2, verses 41 and following, tells the story of the lost boy, Jesus.  Mary and Joseph mounted a search to find Him and eventually did.  The Pharisees, here in John 7, begin to wonder where Jesus intends to go that they cannot go and find Him.  They have no intention of being a follower of Jesus and His Way, but would like to keep Him under some kind of surveillance.  Kinship with the Pharisees can be traced in many of the family trees of folks today, inside and outside the church.

More than one person has related to me:  "I believe in Jesus.  I am just not ready to include Him in my life.  I have too much else to do.  As long as I know where to find Him when I need Him, I will be alright."  While that is the mindset of a vast number of people, others are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to find Jesus.  They have looked in some churches, Christian organizations and agencies, but have not found Jesus.  They have ventured into the area of "prayer" and come away lacking in a "feeling" that their prayers go any higher than the ceiling.  Some have taken to watching Christian friends to see if they find Jesus in their lives.  So, the search goes on . . .

Lent is a time of self-soul searching.  A time to look deep into the theologies which drive our Christian ways.  Are they in line with those of Jesus?  Are we walking in His footsteps?  Are His teachings, commands and precepts visible in all that we do?  The answers to those questions are very personal ones.  For me, as a pastor, or any other to make that judgment call is not correct behavior on our part.  Whether it is right or not, there are those who are searching for Jesus who will look at our lives and make a judgment as to the visibility of Jesus.  If they judge that He is not in all that we do, or at least in an appreciable amount, they will go elsewhere.

Begin today, early in this Lenten season, to begin to ask the questions that are already being asked.  Make those adjustments so those who are looking for Jesus in you will find Him and follow after Him.

Let us pray ~
God of grace, You made yourself visible to our world in the life of Jesus.  Make Jesus visible in our world through us.  In His Name.  Amen

~Wallace Wheeles

Senior Pastor

Readings

Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28

Psalms 71 or 74

Romans 2:12-24

John 5:19-29