January 25th, 2022 – The Father Draws You
Experiencing God Devotional
John 6:65 – “And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He never seemed intimidated by the crowds. Instead, He looked into the multitudes and focused on those whom His Father was sending to Him. Jesus knew that because of sin, no one naturally seeks after God. Sinful man’s inclination is to hide from God, rather than to come to Him (Gen. 3:8; Ps. 14:1–3). Therefore, whenever Jesus saw that the Father was drawing a person to Himself, Jesus immediately began relating to that person.
Jesus observed the great lengths to which the despised tax collector, Zacchaeus, had gone in order to see Him pass by. In response, Jesus immediately left the crowd and spent time with this man in whom the Father was obviously working (Luke 19:1–10). Likewise, every time the disciples experienced a new insight into the truths of God, Jesus recognized that it was the Father who had been at work in their lives (Matt. 16:17).
As the multitudes gathered around Jesus, He spoke some truths that were difficult for the people to grasp (John 6:60). So challenging were His words that many of His listeners departed, but Jesus did not become discouraged. He saw that the Father was working in the lives of His disciples, and that is where Jesus invested His time. As you desire to spend time alone with Jesus, recognize that this is the Father drawing you to His Son. You do not seek quiet times with God in order to experience Him but because you are already sensing His activity. As you read the Scriptures and pray, trust that God will honor your response to His leading by teaching you more about Himself.
Blackaby, Richard. Experiencing God Day By Day (p. 26). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Pastor’s Thoughts
I am not certain that I agree with everything in this devotional for today.
I see things a little differently. Let me share some things that I see in Scripture.
1. We cannot experience salvation without God pursuing us first.
2. Once God has pursued us in whatever way He did so we have a decision to make whether we are willing to surrender everything for Him.
3. Once we surrender everything to God and make Jesus our Lord and Savior, then the Holy Spirit literally comes inside of us. He is a helper in oh so many ways. He makes us aware of what is a temptation. He makes us aware of when we have sinned. He helps us understand The Bible in ways we couldn’t without Him. He even prays for us on our behalf the things we don’t even realize to pray.
4. He allows to make choices. The choice to read God’s Word or not. The choice to pray or not. The choice serve or not. The choice to be a witness or not. The choice to disciple others or not. The choice to sin or not.
5. God allows us to choose our choices, but He does not allow us to choose our consequences.
These are the things I see in God’s Word, The Bible. I know one thing to be certain. When I get to Heaven I will be right about things and I will be wrong about other things. I can’t ever fully have all the answers to all the questions this side of Heaven. And neither can you. But that will not stop me from seeking, praying, obeying, sharing, all to grow in His Kingdom and to bring glory to His name.
Are you making it the a priority to know your Lord better?
Are you making it a priority to obey your Lord better?
Are you sharing your Lord with others?
Are you making it a point whenever possible to give God the glory rather than seeking it out for yourself?
As always the choices are yours, the consequences are God’s. Choose wisely.
Have a blessed Tuesday everyone!
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