My friend had shared his faith with his father repeatedly, but the father never wanted to listen. Other family members had shared Jesus, but the father wouldn’t listen to them, either. Now Dad was in his mid-80’s and hospitalized with serious health issues. Dad didn’t realize that Jesus doesn’t give up on you.
My friend, a mutual friend, and I went to visit him in the hospital. With God’s help, we led him to faith. Afterwards, his son shared, “My Dad’s life changed dramatically after that.”
Why? For the first time in his life, this man knew Jesus as his Savior. The Lord had planted many seeds in his heart over his long lifetime and finally one sprouted. The Lord had not given up on him. The Apostle Paul speaks of the planting and watering of God’s word. 1 Cor. 3: 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.[1]
Jesus didn’t give up on the Disciples
Jesus had mentored His disciples for three years, but when He needed them most, they ran away like frightened children. Judas betrayed Him and John was the only one at the cross. The disciples hadn’t expected the death and resurrection of Jesus. Ministry wasn’t working out like they anticipated. Perhaps they went fishing because they were giving up. Or perhaps they simply went back to something they knew that would give them time to think.
Jesus had appeared twice to them in the Jerusalem area. Now He comes a third time. John 21:1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. [2] They may have given up on themselves, but Jesus never gave up on them. He came to get His disciples back on His plan.
Jesus Today
Maybe you feel God’s plan for your life seems to be on hold. Maybe you have gone down the wrong path in life and you think it is too late to turn back. The good news is Jesus doesn’t give up on you! If your heart is still beating, the Lord is working to help you to fulfill His plans for your life.
2 Cor. 6:2“For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. [3] Jesus continues to pursue us to bring us to faith or to strengthen our faith so we can fulfill His plans.
To hear more about Jesus pursuing the disciples, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-peter
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.