John 1:36-39 And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he says, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, What do you seek? They said to Him, Rabbi (which is called, being translated, Teacher), where do you live? He says to them, Come and see. They came and saw where He lived, and stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
As Yeshua (Jesus) was about to begin his ministry, many were listening intently to John the Baptist as He declared, “Behold the Lamb of God!” [John 1:36]. Some of those listening to John were intrigued with the man he was pointing to, and they followed Yeshua. So He turned and questioned them, “What do you seek?”
“What do you seek?” Sounds like such a simple question…but isn’t it actually the most significant question of our lives? What are we truly seeking? Their response, “Where do you live?” says, “We want to know more about you now…”
I love Yeshua’s response … “Come and see.” It was an invitation into an intriguing relationship and what a relationship it would be! These young men were about to become disciples of the Son of God. Could they have had any idea what that would mean? The small step of faith to follow him, discover his whereabouts, without knowing anything of what it would involve, the small step of faith…..but they were seeking Him.
Passover has ended, and we who have found our “Passover Lamb”, recognizing Yeshua, the Lamb of God, are we much different from the disciples who curiously followed Him, not having a clue what awaited them when He said, “Come and see!”
This narrative of the disciples is their great adventure into knowing and serving the God of creation. Something about Him, and the testimony of the Baptist, drew them forward in small irrevocable steps of faith and decision. Some of us sit on the fence until we have more proof or assurance, and the decisive question, “What do you seek?” sticks in our throat. Is it the fear of what it might mean to follow Him? If so, faith must be the answer. Following Yeshua is a great adventure precisely because we cannot know what it will involve. His disciples were invited to see “where He lived” and we are too. Now that we’ve been delivered from Egypt and passed through the water, not only can we see where He lives…… we can live there with Him! So let’s continue the adventure.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]One of the major themes of Rosh Hashana is called Akedat Yitzchak, which means the Binding of Isaac. According to Jewish tradition, God told Abraham that the ram’s horn – otherwise known as a shofar – should be blown on Rosh Hashana to remind people of the sacrifice that God provided Himself when Abraham was about to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah.
The concept of ownership often influences how one can view the world, but if we recognize the truth that our time here is short and we can’t take anything with us, it will change our perspective. We are simply stewards of what has been entrusted to us. I’ve been running Worthy and its sites for 25 years, and I’ve never thought I was an owner but rather a steward of a ministry.
The last and most intimate metaphor for Messiah’s relationship with us is as Bridegroom to Bride. For some, the Lord’s intention to marry will be the most significant and wondrous purpose in all of Creation. The preparation for the wedding will be the most meticulous and profound of all historical processes, orchestrated by His Holy Spirit in cooperation with every devoted and expectant saint who ever lived.
One constant pitfall we must watch for is taking credit for something that God does in or through us, or using the gifts and callings of God for self-exaltation. In that light it may be easier to handle poverty, weakness, or insignificance, than wealth, ability, power or authority, since poverty and frailty are not normally things we boast about, and they cause us to recognize our need for God. Prosperity, gifting, and anointing, on the other hand can be powerful temptations, leading to pride, covetousness, and self-sufficiency.
Reading this parable, we are struck by the serious consequences of failing to produce Kingdom fruit. But there’s something I want to particularly point out. Many of the great heroes of the faith — people like Moses and David, were not given great responsibilities immediately. Each of these men first served as a lowly shepherd, tending sheep. Having tested them first in this humble vocation, God then felt confident to elevate them to positions of greatness — but it all started with a small step!
Talking to people about God has become a regular part of our lives. Between meeting people on the boards and in our chat rooms (which you should really come and visit at !) and the opportunities which open up in our daily lives, we find ourselves sharing with people from all walks of life – unbelievers, new believers, people who have come and gone from the faith and back again.
The place we call home in Israel is in the rebuilt city of Arad, an ancient city rebuilt in 1962 near the historic site of Tel Arad. It was the first planned city in Israel.
Tel Arad was an ancient fortress that, according to archaeologists, has been destroyed and rebuilt at least ten times. The citadel was thought to have originally been built during the times of King David and Solomon. The Negev desert’s arid conditions have remarkably preserved the fortress’s archaeological layers, providing a continuous record of its history for hundreds of years.