Peekaboo with my six month old grandson has progressed from a quick distraction to a game of predictive analytics, much like the game my smart phone plays as I begin typing any given word into a text box. In spite of the fact that I have a son and a son-in-law named Jacob which I always begin with an uppercase J, Siri still insists on autocorrecting to kabob every single time.
My grandson is a much faster learner than my cell phone. If I peek from the right and then from the left, Thomas instinctively looks back to the right for the next appearance. He’s learning to mimic and even anticipate my actions. Jesus taught His disciples in this way. When he wanted them to understand that he came to serve and not be served, He washed their feet, saying, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 NLT)
Jesus first followers had his earthly example, but we have something far greater!
Jesus said, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
John 16:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.7.NASB1995
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
John 16:13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.13.NASB1995
“As it is written in the Scriptures,
‘They will all be taught by God.’
Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.”
John 6:45 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.6.45.NLT
Now that my grandson recognizes my voice, he will turn toward me even if he does not see me. Jesus said the same is true of those who follow Him.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.10.27.NLT
We still have Jesus. He is alive and present with us by His Holy Spirit living in us. We still have His example in His Word, but we also have His real time help available to us as we learn to walk in step with the Spirit. As I learn to know His voice, I begin to anticipate when or where He might speak or move me to action, but I must continually rely on Him as He warned in John 15:5, saying, “apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”
John 14:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.14.12.NLT
Thank You, God, that You made a way for me to know You.
Thank You for sending Jesus to embody grace and mercy, and to provide forgiveness once for all time.
Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your Spirit with which You guarantee what is to come! (II Corinthians 5:5)
I do not walk alone.
You are with me.
Help me to anticipate Your movements but never to run ahead of You, Lord. I want only to respond appropriately to You in all things.
In Jesus’s name.
Amen.
A Fitting Reply 