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John 1:43-51

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20

We're going on a journey. We're goin' on a journey and its a long journey. In fact we only have a vague idea of the destination. We know that the way will often times be difficult; we know that there will be challenges and obstacles to overcome. Along the way we may get lost, lose our bearings or even forget that we are even on a journey. But if we can remember who we are and whose we are, the journey can be beautiful one. If we remember who we are and whose we are nothing will dissuade us or separate us from our purpose. We are children of God and we belong to Jesus The Messiah!

The family and I are going on a vacation in couple of weeks. My wife has convinced her sea sickness-prone husband to get on a boat for 5 days. This trip is filled with a lot of firsts. First flights for many of my kids, which is causing some worry and stress. First time out of the country for some. And it's a first family vacation for my family as it is now configured. Never before this week have we been a family of eight. Never in my life would I have guessed that I would be a father of six. But that's part of the story of my journey.

Many of you have met the newest addition to our family. His name is Eli. Eli has been on quite a journey. Born under difficult circumstances. Taken into foster care, then a year and a half later sent on an airplane across the country with a person he has only met once before and lives with brothers and sisters who were, until this past Thursday, complete strangers. He is receiving unconditional love and acceptance in this strange frozen land, while learning a new life. He has a lot going for him, but that doesn't mean that its easy for him. Eli's life journey is his own; his story reads like none other. I can never know exactly what he is dealing with but I can, we all can, be companions to him in his life's journey. That's what we all are to each other. Companions on the way.

We have to consider what this life is all about. What is this journey that we are all on? What will give all of this meaning? All of this pain and difficulty that we endure: What's it all for? There are two perspectives.

Either we are all following our own path to our own destination and we take Jesus along for the ride to smooth out the rough spots or we are following Jesus to a destination of his choosing we trust that we will make it through to something better so come what may! I prefer to think that it's the second one but I am sure that there are folk sitting here today with either perspective.

When we only take Jesus along for the ride, when we make Jesus the companion to our journey then we spend time trying to find ways to make Jesus “relevant” in any given situation. If we try to adjust the good news about Jesus to fit our world; to fit our lifestyle, it may seem to work for us in the short term. We can talk about forgiveness and unconditional love and it feels great. The self-affirmation that comes can be comforting, unfortunately it doesn't last very long. How is your spiritual life? Is it marked with a lot of ups and downs. You feel strong in the faith at times and at others you waver? Perhaps it's a matter of the way in which you view Jesus. Is Jesus the Lord of your life or is he a companion? When Jesus is just the companion on our Journey we are actually denying the Lordship of Jesus. If Jesus is Lord then there must be submission to his will. If we are trying to make the christian message submit to our will then there is a disconnect between us and the Living God. If we dictate our own life story and ask God to bless it then there is no communication between us and God. It is as if a child writes a list of demands, posts it on the refrigerator and is disappointed when his parents don't comply.

Ana and Eli

Imagine what your prayer life would be if it were like a kid putting up list on the refrigerator door.

“you know, I put up my list but my parents didn't respond...I am really questioning the existence of parents right now.”

or

“you know I put my list on the fridge and some of the things happened other things did not. I figure if I just need to wait and be patient and my parents will give me what I want.”

Or the theological apologist:

“You know sometimes when you put a list of demands on the fridge for your parents, sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it wait, and sometimes it's 'I have something better in mind.'”

wouldn't it be better if the children would go directly to the parent and talk? Wouldn't it be better for the child to listen to the words of the parent?

In the Hebrew Scriptures Samuel life was dedicated to serving God, but he had not yet been taught to listen for the voice of God. Three times God called out to Samuel. At first he went to the Eli the temple priest, his foster parent, thinking it was he that was calling him. It was God. Eli wisely advised young Samuel to respond by listening. Listening for the voice of God is the beginning of following God as the lord of your life rather than keeping God in you pocket only to pull him out when you need him. We are children of God and we belong to Jesus The Messiah!

In the Gospel lesson Jesus decided to make the long journey to Galilee. He asked Philip to follow him. Isn't that strange? He didn't invite him to accompany him or to split the cost of gas so-to-speak, he said follow me. Jesus only invites us to follow him. Philip gets it right away and he goes out and finds Nathaniel. He tells Nathaniel that he has found the Messiah. Nathaniel is skeptical; he's honest with his feelings. Can anything good come from Nazareth? I get that. None of want to be mislead. If someone came and said they found Jesus, he is here in town, its a guy from Baldwin...How excited would you be to follow your friend to meet some guy from the next town over who claims to be the savior of the world. But Phillip's answer is the best. “come and see.”

Now that's the invitation. “Come and see” says that its not about you or the person you are inviting, its about Jesus and who He is. It is about opening the way for someone to discover Jesus for themselves. Do you have a desire to tell others “come and see?” I don't mean, come and see what we are doing here at St. Paul with all of our wonderful outreach and mission work; I don't mean come and see the service of worship where God is truly praised. Do you have the desire to say “come and see” in reference to what life is like when we give it over to God? Have you found a relationship with God that is worth telling your friends about?

How is it with you today on your long journey of faith? Jesus calls us to follow him. Jesus calls us to a life of faith and trust in him. What will your response be?

Would you pray with me?