Moments Matter
One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
John 1:40-42 (NKJV)
Moments matter, don't they? They matter in our journey to spiritual maturity.
But more important than seizing moments or responding to moments or showing up for moments is discerning the meaning of moments.
I’ve had a lot of moments in my life, and many of them have been powerful, impactful, inspiring, and motivating. What is significantly important, however, is whether or not I develop the spiritual capacity to discern the meaning of a moment.
Andrew was a faithful disciple of a powerfully spiritual and impactful preacher, John the Baptist, who was unusually gifted. Andrew was deeply devoted to John's ministry, and it significantly impacted his life. And yet, when Jesus passed by, Andrew heard something in John's voice as John proclaimed, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Andrew sensed something in the moment. He discerned the depth of its meaning. And for Andrew, his interpretation was this: “I've been listening to the wilderness prophet all this time. He has significantly impacted my life and added quality to my lived experience, but this is a moment, and I can't stay here. I can't let this Man pass by, because what just happened revealed the meaning of John's whole ministry.”
John’s role was that of a forerunner, and Andrew picked up on that. Andrew thought, “This moment means something for me spiritually. It requires that I make a critical decision. Even if I make the decision by myself, it is forcing a change to where I rest my attention and where I plant my devotion. I cannot let it pass. I cannot treat it as casual. I’ve got to leave John and go with Jesus, even though nobody else is following Him yet. The moment is too meaningful for me to pass up.”
Are you able to discern the moments that truly matter in your spiritual journey?
