DIFFICULT FOLLOWING

Jesus gave some rather difficult teachings and his close disciples struggled with them as we do. We doubt within ourselves as they did because of our questions, or because of not understanding, or because of laziness of pursuit. Our ghostly guilt grabs us. Though faith is built during these times and the mind is weakened to reveal the heart, we still want to believe, we still want to walk with Him though stumbling along from place to place. But not all of us. Some stop here and turn away and go no further.

“As a result of this (teaching) many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him any more,” (John 6:66). That’s it! ‘I’m out of here!’ ‘I can’t take this anymore.’

Prayer and meditation often prompt decision. ‘Can I still take it?’ ‘Do I still want it?’ ‘Is it worth it?’ These are the questions. Another question is, ‘What if we are not asking these questions?’ What if we never evaluate, wonder, inquire and question? What does that say about us? What if we ‘have walked away and no longer follow,’ though we think by ritual and habit of religion that we do still follow, though dead and insensitive, uninterested and ‘in attendance’ to something that is meaningless? What if we have stumbled into apathy and unbelief in our heart although our bodies keep on in some ‘membership’ role? That’s pretty scary.

“Do you want to go away as well?” Jesus