“As you came and continue to come to Jesus—a living stone rejected by men, but chosen and precious in God’s sight—you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pet.2:4-5)
Lord Jesus, the question, “Have you come to Jesus?” remains the most critical, glorious, and grace-filled question for any of us to answer—even for those who already know and love you. For “coming to Jesus” describes the whole Christian life, not just its beginning. It’s like asking our lungs, “Have you come to oxygen today?”; for by you “we live, move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
The more time we spend in rich fellowship and heart communion with you, Jesus, the less we look to people, things, and approval to fill the Jesus-shaped vacuum in our hearts. How many times are we going to have to return to Gospel-summer-school to be convinced that people make lousy Jesus-substitutes?
The more we abide in you and linger in your love (Jn.15:4-5), the more precious you become to us, Jesus—and that that changes everything. Our chains break, our shame melts, and our self-absorption shrinks. We get freer, our peace grows deeper, and we become “sweeter”—for we cannot spend time with you without your gentleness, humility, and kindness becoming ours.
Indeed, the better we know you, Jesus, the more we understand why the Apostle Paul spoke of death as gain and “better by far” than anything we can imagine or have this side of heaven (Phil.1:23). O for the Day we will know you fully and forever as our treasure, life, and everything. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.
