https://odb.org/2025/02/05/dont-miss-the-point
John 5:36–40 (NIV): 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
In John 5:36-40, Jesus was basically telling the Jewish religious authorities then that in focusing on the law, they missed out on the Scriptures that spoke about Him as the Messiah or Christ. They studied the Scriptures to have eternal life and yet refused to go to Him to have eternal life when He is the way, the truth, and the life. In a similar fashion, the writer of today’s ODB missed her highway exit when she focussed too much on overtaking to get to her lane for the exit! Often, when it comes to highway exits, slowing down to change lanes to exit is a much better strategy than overtaking.
Serving God is definitely one of our obligations and responsibilities as a believer of Christ. Not for fame or fortune. But because we love Him and we want to repay Him with gratitude for what Christ did for us on Calvary, resetting us on a trajectory that will end in eternal life. We want Christ to commend us at the end that we have been a good and faithful servant. That having responded to His calling, we have been faithful to His plans and purposes for our lives. Not so much our achievements in ministry, but did we do the tasks we were supposed to do? If, as a soldier, we are to be a sentry at a guard post, are we measured by how many enemy soldiers we eliminated? Surely, the KPI of a sentry differs from that of a sniper.
The point this morning, however, is a little bit more subtle. It is well and good if we are faithfully and diligently serving God and fulfilling His plans and purposes for our lives. That’s our goal and KPI. But is Christian life all about that only? Surely not! Our faith is more about Christ and our relationship with Him. We serve Him, but we also need to relate to Him. In fact, that’s more fundamental. God created Adam and Eve so that He may fellowship and relate to mankind, unlike the beasts of the earth or the birds of the air. In the same rein, Christ saved us, so we may have fellowship with Him and the Father.
Let’s pause for a moment and consider where we are in Christ. It is better to slow down to change lanes to get to the exit than to overtake to change lanes! Slow down a little and enjoy moments of fellowship with Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Saviour!
Ronnie's Thoughts 