Monday, May 16, 2005

Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

At HOME groups tonight, we read most of John 6. Toward the end of the passage many of the followers decided that Jesus was not worth following. I asked the question "why is it so hard to follow Jesus?" That opened up over an hour discussion on reasons why it is hard to follow Jesus. We had answers anywhere from his hard sayings to taking the leap of faith. There comes a point in your life when you will be faced with the choice to take the leap. Sometimes we have relied upon science to help make this decision easier (but it can't). Sometimes we have relied upon our rationality to make this decision (but many of the things God does are irrational).

We are stuck with the leap of faith. Are we willing to take that leap and decide to believe or stay in our neat little "controlled" worlds? What would happen if we did have that faith as small as a mustard seed?

If we do take that leap, God begins to work through us but also he begins to transform us. Those are exciting and great futures. But God also begins to demand things from us. The rich man could not give it up. Judas couldn't see past himself. Pilot lost courage. But the roman soldier at the foot of the cross echoes in the house of faith "surely this man was the Son of God.

Faith is a simple but very complex thing. Good thing God gives it to us.