Do you want more?
On spiritual hunger.
We’re currently taking a look at John 1:35-51.
Last week’s letter focused on the first three verses and these were the major questions asked:
Who can you say you’ve pointed to Christ?
Are you proclaiming Christ wherever you find yourself?
Are you aware that you are not a mistake and you were placed on earth for a purpose?
This week, we’ll be discussing the next two verses.
“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.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.”
-John 1:38-39 NIV
••Christ asked John’s disciples what it was they wanted from him and I hear Him ask us the same today. The perfect answer to this question would be that we want Jesus every moment of each day. The perfect answer would be that we live in accordance to our answer of, “We want You Jesus”. But to be totally honest, I find that in my own life, I don’t live everyday as if Jesus is all I want. I say I want Jesus and Him alone but some days I live like I want Him and something else.
In the letter two weeks ago, I spoke a bit more about this question and you can read that here. Jesus is asking you today just like He did the two who followed Him, “What do you want?” I hope that you answer this question with all honesty as this will reveal what you may need to work on.
••I love the answer of the disciples- “Rabbi, where are you staying?” I feel like this is such a Nigerian answer, not answering the question they were asked but asking Jesus another question. Their reply pointed to the fact that they didn’t just want to be His acquaintances but they wanted to actually KNOW Him. And remember that for you to know someone, you have to spend time with them. Nothing was more important to these two disciples than knowledge of this Messiah the prophets had prophesied about.
If you grew up a Jew where you had to memorize the entire law and you were told right from childhood that a Messiah was coming to save your people but no one knew the time, I imagine that for this Messiah to come in your time would be a momentous occurence. Plus, they had been with John for so long and knew that nothing was more important than the Lamb of God. So when Jesus asked them this question, they didn’t give Him an answer that showed fleeting interest but one that showed commitment. Their Messiah and Teacher had come, there was nowhere else they could be. Right by His side was where they desired to remain.
••Jesus told them to come and see and He says that to all of us. To come and spend hours of intimate conversation with Him. To know Him so we can know ourselves. To come and dwell with Him like we would a lover or best friend. To come and learn more about what He values so that we can value those same things. To come and see how He views life so that we can view life the same way, so that we can remove whatever doesn’t tally with that view. To come and see the potential He sees in people so we can treat them according to that great potential. To come and learn about His priorities so that we can make them our priorities. It is only when we come and see, that we come to the realization that we need to change our mindset and worldview in order to be true followers and students of our Rabbi.
••The disciples were hungry for more. Are you hungry for more of Jesus today? If you are truly hungry, whatever will take you deeper with Jesus is what you will long for. How can you say you’re hungry when you do not attend church and receive the word of God being preached daily/ weekly. How can you say you’re hungry when you do not read your Bible? How can you say you’re hungry when you do not do anything to grow in Christ? How can you say you’re hungry for Christ when you do not seek Him? And the fascinating thing is, the more you know God, the more you long for Him. There’s always a deeper level. It’s such a beautiful cycle that keeps you digging as love of God gradually consumes your heart and soul.
••Lastly, the disciples stayed with Christ. They met Him at about 4p.m and stayed with him that evening( and for the next three years). They were not in a hurry or rushing off somewhere. They wanted to spend the night with Him. Do you treat Christ the same way? Or do you come to prayer with a 15 minute timer? Once it’s 15 minutes, you leave. Even if the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you something, the time is up so maybe tomorrow He can try again. We have to learn how to be a people who stay with God, who remain with Him in prayer. This secret place is where He’ll refuel you, nourish you, correct you, comfort you, enlighten you, give you the best ideas! You must make out time daily to dwell with Christ. Add some minutes to your daily prayer time to just sit and be still, to just remain with Christ. Don’t be in a hurry. There’s always something God wants to say to us. The question is if we are we listening and staying long enough to hear Him complete His sentences.
May the good Lord continue to help us daily and build us up in Him. Amen.
I’ll end this letter with the first stanza of a hymn I love:
It's not an easy road
We are traveling to heaven,
For many are the thorns on the way;
It's not an easy road,
But the Savior is with us,
His presence gives us joy every day.
No, no, it's not an easy road,
No, no, it's not an easy road;
But Jesus walks beside me
And brightens the journey,
And lightens every heavy load.
🕯️Bible verse of the week:
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,”
-Ephesians 1:17-18 NIV
🖋️Quote of the week:
As long as the dice is still rolling,
you will get your six.
For now, we clap for others
and show them love.
-Unknown
In case you missed last week’s letter, read it here:
Who are you pointing them to?
Last week, towards the end of the letter, I mentioned that we were taking a look at John 1:35-51 in my Bible study group. I focused on the question Jesus asked the two disciples who followed him- “what are you looking for?”
The struggle to be still and hear from God is real 😅 May God help us to listen when he speaks
Wow!! This piece is beautiful. Thank you for writing ♥️♥️♥️