A Lenten Reflection
Hearing the Call
In today's Gospel reading (John 1:35-42), we are given a glimpse in how the first of the Apostles came to follow Christ. Two of John the Baptist's disciples saw Jesus and heard John say, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" With that, they followed Jesus to learn more about Him. Later, one of them, Andrew, would run to his brother Simon (who Jesus would rename Peter) and exclaim, "We have found the Messiah!" And with that, Andrew took Simon Peter to Christ.
Do you remember when you first fell in love with the Lord? Did you grow slowly in faith, perhaps raised in the Church and the decision to call Jesus "Lord" awoke after time in your heart? Was it a sudden meeting, at a camp or through a service? Did a friend or family member first tell you about the Messiah? Maybe it was after a long dance with the Lord, deciding if you believed or not, and is He the Lord of your life or not, before, like CS Lewis, you gave in and admitted "that God is God."
We all have our own stories, maybe similar yet uniquely our own, for Christ beckons each of us to a personal relationship with Him. The Apostle Andrew's meeting with Jesus was different than his brother Simon Peter's, yet Christ drew them both to Him. Just as He drew me, and you, and beckons yet to those who will come.
Sometimes though, after we've walked with the Lord for a while, we start to get immersed in our own lives. It is easy to do, we all have so much going on. Life is hectic, with families, work, health, friends, hobbies, etc. Our days and weeks fill up very quickly. And in our busyness, we often forget to stop and listen for the small, still voice of Christ, who calls to us still. He wants us to spend time with Him, in prayer, in reading His Word, and in doing His work.....He wants to give us His peace, His comfort, and His love.
But we have to be listening for Him to hear that call. We have to be spending time with Him to really know Him. So this Lent, this holy season of the Church year, I urge you, my friends, to set time aside each day to listen to Christ, and to go to Him in prayer. To set aside time for extra Bible reading and to immerse yourself in His Word. To remember that He walked that long road to Jerusalem and Calvary, to the Cross, out of love for you and I.....it isn't too much then, is it, to love Him and return to Him daily with our whole hearts?
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
Hearing the Call
In today's Gospel reading (John 1:35-42), we are given a glimpse in how the first of the Apostles came to follow Christ. Two of John the Baptist's disciples saw Jesus and heard John say, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" With that, they followed Jesus to learn more about Him. Later, one of them, Andrew, would run to his brother Simon (who Jesus would rename Peter) and exclaim, "We have found the Messiah!" And with that, Andrew took Simon Peter to Christ.
Do you remember when you first fell in love with the Lord? Did you grow slowly in faith, perhaps raised in the Church and the decision to call Jesus "Lord" awoke after time in your heart? Was it a sudden meeting, at a camp or through a service? Did a friend or family member first tell you about the Messiah? Maybe it was after a long dance with the Lord, deciding if you believed or not, and is He the Lord of your life or not, before, like CS Lewis, you gave in and admitted "that God is God."
We all have our own stories, maybe similar yet uniquely our own, for Christ beckons each of us to a personal relationship with Him. The Apostle Andrew's meeting with Jesus was different than his brother Simon Peter's, yet Christ drew them both to Him. Just as He drew me, and you, and beckons yet to those who will come.
Sometimes though, after we've walked with the Lord for a while, we start to get immersed in our own lives. It is easy to do, we all have so much going on. Life is hectic, with families, work, health, friends, hobbies, etc. Our days and weeks fill up very quickly. And in our busyness, we often forget to stop and listen for the small, still voice of Christ, who calls to us still. He wants us to spend time with Him, in prayer, in reading His Word, and in doing His work.....He wants to give us His peace, His comfort, and His love.
But we have to be listening for Him to hear that call. We have to be spending time with Him to really know Him. So this Lent, this holy season of the Church year, I urge you, my friends, to set time aside each day to listen to Christ, and to go to Him in prayer. To set aside time for extra Bible reading and to immerse yourself in His Word. To remember that He walked that long road to Jerusalem and Calvary, to the Cross, out of love for you and I.....it isn't too much then, is it, to love Him and return to Him daily with our whole hearts?
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
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