Hosanna Restoration Church

Here we are, closing in on the end of another year, another century, & another millennium. There has been much said and done in preparation. There has been fear pedaled. Much money has exchanged hands, supplies have been stashed, and weapons and ammo gathered protect what has been stashed. And well, to be honest, to me it is kind of sad. Not so much because of what people have done, let each be convinced in their own hearts. The sad part is what has not been done.

There has been so much focus on what could happen and what is going to happen. There have been so many words about what God is going to do and preparation for it, that it seems we have forgotten the most important part. That part is following Jesus. Jesus will be the same on 1/1/2000 as He was when He made all things. He does not change. He was the greatest promoter of not fearing, and yet many have been put into a panic by the very people who are supposed be teaching them not to fear. Has all that has been done in the name of Jesus been done as unto Jesus? I do not know. I would prefer to believe that all have been sincere in their dealings, but I suspect it is not true.

Partially because of these things, but mostly because this is what I prefer, I want to end this year, this century, and this millennium, encouraging us all to keep our eyes on Jesus. I am by no means implying that people have not been following Him. I am just saying that sometimes it has been hard to see where Jesus was in all the congestion. Personally, I believe He has continued doing what He has always done. He has been teaching and preaching the good news about the kingdom. He has been healing, delivering and saving people. As you read on in Matthew chapter 5, you see that this was how He began His ministry. This is what He began to do while He was on this earth and this is what He continues to do today. While many have been caught up in other things, Jesus has just kept being Jesus wherever people would welcome Him.

Everything that we do or say, should somehow be linked to these activities. How we walk and how we talk effects people one way or the other for the kingdom of God. That is why Jesus said to follow Him and He would show them how to fish for men. These men knew how to fish for fish. They had learned it and practiced it all their lives. A good fisherman knows where the most likely places are and what bait will work best. They also know when to move to another spot and when to switch bait. They know how weather, wind, and etc. effect the fish and the fishing!

The same is true of fishing for men. We have to understand what effects people. We need to be aware of the surroundings and the storms in peoples lives. We need to care about people’s eternal lives. Truly, meeting peoples temporary needs can open the doors to meeting their eternal needs, and we need to know when and how to best do all of these things.

People need to know that God has a blessing waiting for them. They need to know how they can escape the curse they have been living under. The only way that we will learn to do what God calls us to do, is to follow Jesus. My goal for the remainder of this year, for the rest of my life, and for eternity, is to do just that. I need to, I want to, I can, and I will follow Jesus…forever and forever. Amen.