Others on the journey

​Why do I have to be the one that loves? 
Can’t someone else for just once take this journey?
Why does it have to be me? 
Do I have to love that person who continues to cause me pain? 
Am I the only one taking this journey? 

These questions that can torment us, or when we find the answer, set us free from the need or desire for someone else to be tasked with what only we are called to do. It’s like taking a college course and no one else has signed up for this course but you. Unfortunately, you require this class to be able to graduate and for others, it seems as this is an elective for them. But be of good cheer, you get one on one instructions and specialized tutoring. Thank God they didn’t cancel the class because it would only prolong your graduation. 

So, let us start this morning by allowing the truth to set us free. John 8:32 KJ2000 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Let us remove all the questions and the doubt of other lovers. May we once and for all break the chains of discouragement and despair. Let the truth reign in our lives to set us free from all bondage. Paul speaking to the church reminded us about not shying away from hard work. Acts 20:35 ISV “In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we should help the weak and remember the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” With love, it is better to give than receive, and we can help the weak by showing them the results of hard labor. Yes, beloved this is a hard but rewarding path on the journey. 

Let’s get back to others on the journey. Jeremiah 30:14 KJ2000 “All your lovers have forgotten you; they seek you not; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquity; because your sins were increased.” Now, this is a hard pill to swallow. Those whom we want to do what seems too difficult for us have forgotten us. They have moved on, but we are stuck. They don’t even look to or at us. Could it be we do what we do because of the desire to be loved by others? This is the result of iniquity, and the one who is responsible is not the lovers you seek that now reject you. It is the God you serve who wants you to know that you can’t get what you are seeking from anywhere or anyone else.  That the love you desire begins with Him. 

Our attention is in the wrong place as we ask the questions above and say, what about him? I’m reminded when Peter asked the Lord about John in his “what about him?” moment. John 21:20-21 KJ2000 “Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrays you? Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?” Notice that Peter's focus was momentarily distracted by looking at others and how we can believe that others are loved, comparing ourselves to them. Peter was on the journey, and as it said, he turned about and began to look at John.  

On this journey, when we turn around, it means we get off course. You are headed in a direction, don’t be detoured by what’s behind you. That is a clear direction for someone this morning. Don’t be turned around. Today’s challenge, in your “what about him moment”, is to ask the Holy Spirit to remove from us the eyes of looking at others. Can we now stand and say Here am I Lord? I am ready to be set free and the challenge of loving others is difficult but not my will but Yours. God bless you, my beloved.