“Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36and he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38And Jesus turned and saw them following Him, and asked them, “What do you want?” They answered Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went [with Him] and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. John 1:36-39 AMP

Here is a picture of the call of Christ to those who are seek the truth and light. I am always reminded that all that Jesus asks of us is to “come and see.” No fancy promises of wealth and fame. No guarantee of a comfortable life. Christ’s call to us is to come and experience the life that I offer you! So moved by the experience of walking with Christ, one of them immediately seeks out his brother and brings him to experience the relationship himself. I am often confounded by those who proclaim to know the Savior yet have never really experienced Him in a personal way. They know the liturgy, read their Bible, and attend all the seminars yet, they lack that personal connection that God so desires for each and every one of us.

The Apostle John wrote about the importance of this relationship in his first Epistle.

“1[I am writing about] what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life [the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ]– 2and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]– 3what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1: 1-3 AMP

Notice how personal his description is about his encounter with Christ! Look at the words he used in verse 3; partners with us, fellowship which is the distinguishing mark of a born1again believer! Yes we have liturgy, activities, and Bible studies, but when they overtake the importance of knowing Him in a personal way we have empty religion! Paul’s prayer for the believer says it all.

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers; 17[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. 18And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the [h]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), 19and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,” Ephesians 1:16:19 AMP

I pray today that you take time and invest in your relationship with the Father. God waits daily to speak with you and fellowship with you in all you say and do! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken