Come, Live in the Light!

by Patricia Harris (who also blogs at http://thepastorsmusing.blogspot.com/ )

After following the btw blog for a couple of years, I am delighted by the invitation to share a few thoughts with you…

When the sparkling energy of Christmas is over, it can seem like there is little to look forward to. Many Christian communities strive to continue the Christmas spirit (the spirit of Christ born within us) and let it shine even more! This “follow-up” time after Christmas is called the season of Epiphany.

Take a peek into this “Epiphany” story, where people just like us are caught up in the charismatic light of Jesus: John 1:35-42.

Did you catch Jesus’ words to come and see, inviting two intrigued people… and inviting you? Yes, you personally have received an invitation to “Come and see”! This is an invitation into the experience of being in Jesus’ presence. These words, recorded in the Gospel of John are written for you, as well as the two disciples originally addressed by Jesus.

He said to them ‘Come and See.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.” (John 1: 39).

Jesus had seen these two disciples following him at a distance and first asked them what they were looking for, and then invited them to hang out for a while.

Jesus’ invitation to followers is warm, inviting, and down to earth. He calls to them and encourages them to see for themselves. Jesus doesn’t give an abstract discussion of what it means to follow him, but rather shows what it means to be in his company. The disciples came for an afternoon, and after the experience remained his disciples for the rest of their lives.

How do we invite people to join us in following Jesus? Do we give abstract reasons why it would be good? Do we attempt verbal descriptions of what it means to be a follower?

What can we learn from Jesus’ own words: “Come and see”? Come, join me in reading and responding to a blog. Come, join me in a Skype conversation. Come, sit and pray with me. Come, join me at the homeless shelter. Come, join me at the soup kitchen. Come, join me at a worship service. Come and see!

Some of the spirit of this personal invitation is captured in these verses of a poem by Bessie Flint.  (The rest of the poem can be found at faithwriters.com.)

For many years the great story has been told,
of the man who walked the shores of Galilee.
We’re told of the many miracles which he does,
to truly believe, you’ll need to come and see.

Oh come and see the eyes that he has opened,
see the lives that he has mercifully restored.
Come look at the broken hearts he’s mended,
just come and meet him, this wonderful Lord.

We are often reluctant to issue personal invitations to others to join us in a life of faith. Our faith in God may seem too personal to discuss with others, or we might be afraid that our invitation will be rejected. Yet, most people join a faith community because they have been personally asked by another person. So…  issue that invitation!  Call to someone else to “Come and see” and come and experience. Help someone else personally learn the joy of becoming a follower of Christ.

You are the most important component in giving Jesus’ invitation today to “Come and see.” Without your invitation, someone else may never have the opportunity to:

Come, live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord.
(from  "We Are Called"  by David Haas, from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Augsburg Fortress, 2006)

You have been personally invited to “Come and see” what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Accept the invitation yourself and spread it further. Put it on Facebook, send a text or email, of just personally ask someone else to “Come and see”!!!

Please feel free to join in the conversation, by leaving your comments and looking out for the comments of others. You can also join in an audio skype conversation Thursday at 7pm (EST), Jan. 13. You need to have downloaded the program from skype.com and have a microphone with your computer (as most laptops do). Then add "bythewaycommunity" to your contacts list on skype, and call in on Thursday.