02.28.07 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Connecting with Jesus also means going with Jesus. That's part of the staying connected to the Vine and "branching out." In fact, His call is for people to follow Him. An active journey (or quest...if you please).

Often, I sense that connecting deeply to the Vine means sitting still. I'm all for solitude and quiet time with Him. Honestly, I probably need to make more time for those sweet moments. Yet we also must realize that connecting to Jesus means we aren't only going to sit still. We are following Him. As we follow Him, we have to be on the move! He is sending us into our world...and staying connected to us!

How long has this sending been at the heart of God? My eyes were opened to an old, old Scripture that points to this very early in history.

Then the LORD told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3 NLT

Abraham was the earliest of fathers of our faith. God asked Abraham to go. Yet, God was part of the journey. Remember He said, "I will show you." Connecting with God happened in the going for Abraham. God was sending Abraham on a mission and going with Him.

The perplexing thing is that Abraham didn't know the final destination...it was to be somewhere new. And he was sent from home--all the security and stability he knew.

God was with Abraham because He had an overarching goal--BLESSING. In the mission or the sending there is a purpose...the blessing of people. That's why we are branching out. Missions are not for the travel stories...they are to bring blessing to people.*

Will you be willing to branch out with Jesus even if you don't know where you are going? Will you leave the comfort of home to go on the quest? Will you stay connected to the Vine...and follow Him at the same time?

I hope you'll walk with me...I can't wait to see where He takes us...


Press on,
Mike

*Thanks to Hugh Halter for being someone God used to open my eyes to this.

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