Fascination Takes You Places Determination Never Will
(6 minutes)
"Lovers always get more done than doers. I want to add something to that statement: Fascination will always take you places determination never will. The question today is: are we fascinated with Him?" (Pastor Tim)
Pastor Tim compared the lives of two men on Sunday: John the Beloved and Peter. John the Beloved being a picture of fascination. And Peter being a picture of determination. Yesterday we looked at the difference between the two at the Last Supper. But there's another instance where we see a stark contrast between fascination and determination.
On the way to the cross, Jesus tells His disciples that they will all desert him and scatter (Matthew 26:31). Peter speaks up in that moment and interjects, "Even if all the rest lose courage and fall away, I will still be beside you, Jesus!" Jesus goes on to inform Peter that before the rooster crows he will deny Him three times. Peter objects with, "I absolutely will never deny you, even if I have to die with you!" And all the other disciples echoed these same words to Jesus. What a picture of determination!
But just like Jesus said, He was taken away, and all of the disciples fled. He goes all the way to the cross. Out of all the twelve, there was only one disciple there. Only one disciple made it to the cross.
Mary, Jesus' mother, was standing next to his cross, along with Mary's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when Jesus looked down and saw the disciple he loved standing with her, he said, "Mother, look - John will be a son to you." Then he said, "John, look - she will be a mother to you!" From that day on, John accepted Mary into his home as one of his own family. (John 19:25-27)
"Fascination takes John the Beloved all the way to the foot of the cross when determination could not be found. Fascination, the one who has his head on the breast of Jesus, makes it all the way to the foot of the cross because he sees the cross as valuable as the supper table. Peter is running for his life. The determined one is running for his life. It says Peter followed from a distance, a safe distance. Let me put it another way, Peter followed at a distance that didn't cost him anything. Let me put it another way, in Christian terminology, he followed at a distance that was acceptable to him...But determination doesn't get you to the foot of the cross. Only fascination gets you to the foot of the cross. Only the love affair with Him." (Pastor Tim)
There are some things that only lovers make it through, and to. With the right amount of pressure, determination will fade away. But love, and fascination, will carry you through things that determination can't even face. Fascination carried John the Beloved to the cross, to be with Jesus in one of the most painful moments of His life. Meanwhile, determination seems to fall apart under the pressure. While John the Beloved is staring at Jesus’ face, Peter is weeping bitterly by a campfire.
Do you see that determination isn't enough? The heart must be engaged, in love, and fascinated with Jesus in order to go where He goes.
"Determination is not going to be enough to walk you through some of the hardest trials that you will go through. You will have to be fascinated with His face. Determination will not change your family, only fascination will." (Pastor Tim)
Abba is inviting you into a life of fascination. Abba is inviting you into a life where you'll only ever be defined as a Lover of Yahweh. He's inviting you to go places that determined followers are never allowed to go. And it starts right here - with becoming fascinated with His face.
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Worship: "When I Lock Eyes With You" by Harvest
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
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