Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!” –John 6:68–69
What kind of choices did you make today? Too many to count?
What time to wake up.
What to wear.
What to eat.
Which people to speak and interact with.
One of the problems with choices is that we make so many that it is easy to disregard and dismiss the significance of them.
However, our choices do matter.
In fact, there is only one choice that we will have to make that will matter for eternity. It is the most important choice of our lives.
In the passage today, we witness the public’s response to Jesus. After witnessing Jesus’ many miracles and testimonies of Jesus’ power and authority as the Son of God, Jesus’ fans and followers are offended and angered by His claim to be the Son of God.
Jesus had many fans throughout His ministry.
Crowds were amazed by His teaching.
Crowds were impressed by His authority and power.
Crowds were amazed by the miracles He performed.
Many people admired Jesus and His miraculous works from a distance, but they did not seek eternal fellowship with Him.
Jesus also had many followers throughout His ministry.
They followed Jesus when they were being fed.
They followed Jesus when people were being healed.
They followed Jesus when they were being encouraged and edified.
However, when the blessings of Jesus stopped benefiting them or they were offended, they walked away. Simply following Jesus’ miracles did not lead to eternal fellowship with Him.
Jesus does not desire fans or followers. Jesus, God the Son, invites us to be in fellowship with Him. Fellowship is a permanent union and bond through faith in Jesus Christ that puts us in a deep eternal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
“… because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” –Romans 10:9
Are you a fan, a follower, or in fellowship with Jesus Christ?
Jesus’ invitation to accept Him as our only way to salvation demands a response.
Everyone must make a choice to either accept or reject Jesus as Savior. There is no middle ground—the middle ground belongs to the enemy.
Jesus confronted His twelve chosen disciples and asked whether they would walk away with the others. Peter made a powerful confession of faith.
Despite not fully understanding Jesus’ teaching, His prophetic role, or His coming crucifixion, Peter was faithful and obedient to what he did know about Jesus. We should also heed the example of Peter and the disciples.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” –Acts 4:12
Jesus is Lord. There is none other by which humankind can receive salvation and be reconciled to Almighty God for eternity. Peter believed and confessed in faith that Jesus is God with the power to rescue humankind from sin.
On this side of heaven, we will never have a perfect knowledge of God. Even when we don’t have all the answers, understand our circumstances, or stand confused by God’s movement in our lives, we rest in fellowship with Jesus.
Once we have made the most important choice of our lives—eternal salvation—our choices don’t stop. Believers can choose in faith to live deliberately and strategically for Him.
What might change in your life and my life if we viewed all our choices—even the seemingly insignificant ones—as our service to God?
We can choose to wake up early to commune with and hear from God.
We can choose to eat what best fuels and honors our bodies that house God the Holy Spirit.
We can choose to turn off our televisions, social media, and our electronic devices and connect with those who God has called us to reach.
We can choose to reflect the love, patience, and grace of Jesus whenever we are tested by difficult people.
Choices that seem insignificant will always have eternal value when God is at the center.
Which choices will you begin to surrender to God as you seek to honor Him?
Peace and grace to you,
Have you heard? The Our Security for Eternity Bible study is available to order!
Join us this season as we dive into the Gospel of John. As we prepare our hearts for Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, we’ll study who Jesus is and the impact of His ministry. Through this study we’ll discover that Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to eternal life!
Click the image below to find out more!
100% of the proceeds from your order go straight back to the ministry, helping us fight biblical illiteracy around the world and equip women with God’s Word in 40+ languages.
Thank YOU for your investment and support!
Read more about our mission and the languages we reach here.
—
More from Love God Greatly:
