How are you?

What about you? How are you doing in your relationship with Christ? At my church we are in the midst of a major evangelistic push. I am praying for those in the community to respond to our fliers and our invitations. I am not sure about you, but when I become focused on others’ faith, evangelistic opportunities and the many ministry opportunities available, sometimes I neglect the very thing that I should be focusing on. Those are all wonderful things, but Christ wants our hearts fully committed to Him resulting in a vibrant relationship. Sometimes service and leadership can be a barrier to our intimacy with Jesus. Before we can be concerned about others, we must be in the right place with Christ. I noticed this at the end of the book of John when Peter saw John and asked Jesus (in 21:21), “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answers in John 21:22, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Jesus indicated earlier that Peter was to glorify God in the kind of death he would die, and he was curious about John. We are called to disciple, love and serve those around us. It is possible to elevate those goals above our own relationship with Christ. We must be concerned about others but not over our own pursuit of Christ. How is your prayer life? What have you been reading in God’s Word lately? What is God teaching you? When Christ tells Peter to “Follow me,” that is his highest calling. Remember to focus on Christ as we seek to share the gospel and impact our community. No matter what happens with our invitations and with those we seek to share the gospel with -- what is it to you? You must follow Christ. God is in control; seek and follow Him first. He will take care of the rest.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 4