This seemed the perfect passage for the beginning of the Sunday School season. The gathering of children to hear the good news and learn how we, as Christians, are called to live, but also because our children do not take themselves to church: they are brought. Before they are old enough to understand why, we teach them the truth of Jesus Christ. They learn of our collective devotion to God and His devotion to us long before they can begin to understand what such devotion means.
As I was contemplating the message in today's sermon this morning, I wondered: where does love fit in? If we obey God's call first and then understand what that means and develop our faith afterward, when do we apprehend the love of God? If we follow because we perceive the power and authority of Jesus Christ, when do we perceive His love and His faithfulness? As I sit writing this post, however, I'm struck by the thought that perhaps God's might is made manifest, in part, in His love. Is it in His love that God's authority declares itself? Admittedly, my personal bias and lens is that of a parent and mother, but I see a similarity in my relationship with my children - one founded on love but also authority - and the manner in which Andrew described our collective response to Christ's call.
People often talk of wishing to have "the faith of a child". Obedience without understanding. Following without questioning. Believing without reasoning. We are called to emulate this, to cast down our nets, our preconceptions, our goals and priorities and follow Jesus, not for some wise or clever reason, but simply because He is LORD.
- Darlene
What made the first disciples drop everything to follow Jesus? Why obey without question? I think of this Bible story as an example of evidence that Jesus was who he said he was. There must have been something extraordinary about him--something utterly compelling--that would cause people to respond to him in this way. Something even awe-inspiring. Awe is that inner spaciousness we feel in the presence of greatness, and the signature of God is the presence of a great Love. Paul recognized this awe-inspiring Love when he wrote in his letter to the Ephesians: "I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge..." (3:18-19). Therefore, it is his love that compelled the first disciples to obey him, and his love in relationship with us that calls us even today. -Romi
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of this topic over these last couple days. Because it's one thing to drop everything and follow, but these people kept following. And the people Jesus touched, they stayed changed. I appreciate that God's love stands up to second thoughts and waning enthusiasm. It's not that we have to close our eyes and just keep going and hope for the best - God's love bears inspection and reflection. And it's there for the long term.
ReplyDeleteMaureen.