The Disciples: Where else will we go?

God’s People on Mission

The Disciples: Where else will we go?

Throughout this year, I’ve put together devotions looking at the lives of people from the Bible, who served God in various ways. I’ve wanted to learn from people who were just like you and I; What prepared them?  What was about them that put them in a place where they were ready to serve God in the mission He was calling them to.

As I considered the subject for today, the characteristic that kept being impressed upon me was Desperation.  To some degree, so many of them they were so desperate that all their faith, and reliance was in God.  But that didn’t always mean that these people had reached rock bottom in their life. 

Certainly it was true for some, and sometimes that is necessary to bring us to Christ, and to be used of Him to serve.  But even in wealth, health and prosperity, we need to have an understanding that there is no where else to turn – nowhere else, no one else, only God.  This feeling, or knowledge is displayed maybe most clearly in the words of Simon Peter, who spoke on behalf of the disciples in John 6.

Jesus had just fed the 5,000, and people had followed Him around the lake, but when He began to teach them in a way that was hard or different to what they wanted, they left Him.  And so He turned to the disciples who were still there and asked them: “Do you also want to go leave?

But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (John 6:68-69)

I’ve learned throughout my life, that when things are difficult, it isn’t hard to stay close to Jesus.  They are the times that I know that I need Him.

It is when things are going well, that my focus wanders.  The discipline of time alone with Christ doesn’t seem so urgent to me, I find myself doing more in my own strength, or just more of what I want.  And even the need to spend time with other saints isn’t the same.

And before I know it, I’ve drifted.

As I reflected on this, I came to realise that I am in some good company, or not so good company if you know what I mean.  Look what happened when David had become King and things were going well for him.  He left the door open to temptation, and his fall was painful and destructive.

Yes, there was a way back.  With God, while we have breath there is the opportunity for repentance and forgiveness.  But people got hurt. They were hurt badly because of David’s sin, and there were lingering consequences.  Why would I think it might be different for me?

Fellow saints, if things are going well for you now, rejoice and give thanks for God’s goodness and blessing on your life.  It is right to rejoice and be thankful.  But don’t stop there.  Look around you – look at the world, at where it is headed, look at those who don’t know Christ, and don’t know the disaster ahead of them.

And when we see that, we’ll remember we are called for such a time as this – that we are here – not only to experience God’s goodness, but to minister and to serve.  And the task before us is not one we can do in any way other than in His strength.

I think when we realise that we’ll echo the words of Peter and the disciples:  We cannot leave!  “To whom shall we go?”  Jesus alone has the words, and the power over Eternal Life.  And so we’ll know that we are just as desperate for a close obedient walk with the Lord as they were.