Sunday Service | Following Jesus: November 15, 2020

This morning as we gathered and worshipped, Alecia shared a testimony of how faithful God has been and what a friend we have in him, even during these hard times. She spoke of how her “morning pages” (a practice of The Artist’s Way) have turned into prayers and how God has answered those prayers. “Prayer works; prayer is real. Even though I don’t know what’s happening next, God knows what’s happening next, and I can trust that that is enough.”

Brian switched gears with a recap message of the past couple of series we’ve been working through these past few months. We’ve covered a lot of good ground, walking a long road with one another.

The heart of these past few weeks has been growing in love. Love for God, for ourselves, and for others, our neighbors.

There is a lot of division all around us, but growing in love is what enables us to engage in these areas. 

The question we must ask ourselves in this journey of growth is this:

Are we followers of Jesus or wanderers who engage with Jesus?

Wandering sounds romantic, but it is a lonely, directionless, even hopeless existence.

Following, on the other hand, gives us purpose; it frees us to explore, learn, even fail. Community is found here, with engagement and encounters with God and with others being key parts of following. It is not perfect, but a sense of belonging, remembering that we are loved and we are affirmed by God.

In the gospels, the phrase “follow me” is used 22 times by Jesus, not to condemn but to come alongside.

Slowing down and asking, “Where are our hearts?” is important. It enables us to hear his voice. He will not force his voice upon us--even if we want him to, because that’s not love. Love is an invitation. Jesus wants to be mutual with us, calling all of us to him. Because of this, his voice is inside all of us.

Are we listening?

In 1 Kings 19.11-13, we read a famous story of hearing God’s voice.

God didn’t speak in the expected place or element--fire, wind, earthquake. We sometimes expect him to show up in those big kind of places, the big things or events in our lives. 

Instead, he comes in the stillness to a prophet who is scared and running away from the big things. He doesn’t need a show of force: he needs to be met in the quiet places he has escaped to. God uses that still small voice to draw his attention to himself, and to call Elijah to the next season: to bless others--reminding him that he still calls him, even when he’s afraid and running. “I’m not done with you yet!” God says, giving him purpose to walk forward into. Elijah recognizes his voice and responds to him.

There’s been a post going around on social media that has said something to the effect of: “You are a part of the problem if you’re saying God is in control and it doesn’t matter who wins [the election].” 

While this feels true, it’s a yes & a no kind of truth.

The truth of who God is is that he IS in control--no matter what. To not say that is to forget it or discount it.

However, to not acknowledge our neighbor’s pain is also discounting and not something that love would do.

Don’t hide behind God’s sovereignty, but also don’t undermine his control, because inherent in his control is love and compassion.

Holding both frees us to say, “I love you and I follow you” to God.

It doesn’t need to be qualified. Following Jesus means understanding his love and justice, and practicing those things.