All Day

“‘Come,’ he replied, ‘ and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.'”

John 1:39

Earlier this month my pastor began a sermon series on the 5 S’s which are study, serve, small groups, Sunday and share. He began the series focusing on ‘study’. As I began to listen to the message I thought secretly ‘Perfect, this is just what I needed’. Lately, I haven’t found, or rather, made much time for studying God’s Word. Honestly, I’d say, I’ve done just about everything else instead. Shameful, as someone who professes Christ and tries to live for Him on a daily basis. Natural, as one born in a sin-filled world and faced with 1,001 and one ways to preoccupy my mind, apart from Him. I listened as he talked intently about the importance of studying and then challenged us to set aside a portion of our day, every day to study – beginning with the book of John. Excited about what God was anxious to show me through his Word, I took the challenge.

As I suspected, it didn’t take long for me to stumble upon something that my mind wouldn’t be able to let go of. As I read John 1, I came across verse 39,'”Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.’  This passage is in the context of Jesus calling the first disciples, one of which we presume to be Andrew based on later verses.  What I found most interesting was the fact that they, though we are not one hundred percent who they are, chose to spend the day with him – Jesus. Wow! How many of us can say that we have ever actually spent the day with Jesus? I for one, cannot. I have not spent one whole day entirely and solely with Jesus. What about you?

I am simply in love with my son. I am. I feel absolutely at ease in admitting this. He fascinates me. I can watch him for hours in amazement. I’m surprised at the way he picks things up, like how he’s learned to clap by watching me. I’m surprised at his likes and dislikes. For some reason, he’s not too partial to milk. But he loves bread.  He’s obsessed with my cell phone, the remote control, shoes and his dad’s nose.  I can tell when’s he’s sleepy, hungry or mad. But I also know, that he’s pretty flexible and his mood changes often. I know so much about him by just watching him and spending time with him. Before I went back to work full-time, I spent whole days with him. Each day I’d start anew only to end, exhausted and spent. But I loved every moment of it because I was with him. The time I knew, was priceless.

But what would happen if I devoted myself to spend as much time with God as I spend with my son? I wonder what the results would look like. Would I know more about His likes and dislikes, when He’s angry or sad (about something I’ve done)? Or simply, His plan for my life? If I spent one whole day with Him would I cherish it, the way I do time with my son? Would I end the day exhausted and spent? Or would I end it feeling refreshed and renewed? I’m guessing the latter. But since I’ve yet to try, I can’t say for certain.  And what would a whole day look like? What would I do? What wouldn’t I do? I hope in any effort, God would be pleased. What do you think?

#John #Christ #Bible #God #sin #study