Journey Through JohnSample

Scripture:

John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”

John 6:65 “No one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

Observation:

Even though it’s true that each of us either chooses to follow Christ or to reject Him, Scripture also clearly teaches another side to this here. If God hadn’t drawn us to Christ, and if God hadn’t enabled us to believe in Christ, we never could have done it on our own. God is the pursuer. He loves us long before we love Him. He is not passive in our salvation. He is always working in our lives.

Application:

What does this truth mean for me personally? It doesn’t take away my freewill and responsibility to choose Christ, for this is also clearly taught in Scripture. It doesn’t mean that God picks some to be saved and others to be lost, as some have misunderstood it to mean. But it does humble me, reminding me that I shouldn’t get proud about being a believer – but rather I should fall on my face in gratitude that God pursued me and enabled me to come to Christ. He loves me – and every one of us – so much that He isn’t passive, but is always actively at work in our lives seeking to draw us to Himself and to help us want to be a Christ-follower. Without that, I would be lost. 

Prayer: 

Lord, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the ways you worked in my life to bring me to faith in you. Thank you for each person who was part of that process. May I never become proud thinking it was only my own choice to follow you. Rather, keep me constantly aware that you loved me first and pursued me. Thank you. Amen.

Truths to notice: 

6:41ff Many people didn’t understand Jesus’ teaching about Himself or didn’t accept it. 

6:45 If people seek God, God will draw them to faith in Jesus.

6:47-51 Jesus is the only source of eternal life.

6:62 Jesus had previously been in heaven with God the Father, and He would ascend to heaven again. 

6:63 God’s Spirit is the source of life in us. 

6:64 Some who appeared to be Jesus’ disciples did not actually believe in Him.