30 Mar, 2011
I'm With Him . . .
Just last week, my husband and I were invited to a suprise birthday party for a friend of ours. The plan was to meet for dinner at The Jazz Kitchen, a local restaurant that's known for it's live jazz music. When I first got the invite, I was bummed that we'd have to turn it down because we'd be out of town. At the time, I knew we'd be missing out on a fun evening with friends, but it wasn't until we returned from our trip that I found out just how much we had really missed.
Coincidentally, Monday afternoon (the day of the party), my friend, Jon, had noticed that Chad Ochocinco (Wide Reciever for the Cincinnati Bengals) tweeted about being in Indianapolis; he was looking for a place to go that evening to just relax and listen to some jazz music. Of course, Jon (and who knows how many others) tweeted back and told him about the Jazz Kitchen. Imagine everyone's surprise when Ochocinco later sent a message out that he would in fact be spending his evening at the Jazz Kitchen, and that the first 100 people to get in would be treated to free food/drinks, at his expense!
Of course, by the time our friends arrived for the party, the place was absolutely packed out and they weren't letting anyone else in the door. Jon found an employee and explained that they had reservations, that they were with the Vasey Party. Before they knew it, they were escorted past the crowds, into the restaurant, and seated at one of only two empty tables - one had been reserved for the "Vasey Party of 10," the other (right beside it), for "Chad Johnson Ochocinco!" While so many waited outside, hoping to catch just a glimpse of the NFL star, my friends sat right beside him, celebrating the birthday of a great friend, enjoying great music, and reveling in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
We definitely missed out.
Jon, at The Jazz Kitchen, with Chad Ochocinco
(Picture courtesy of Jon Collins)
Coincidentally, Monday afternoon (the day of the party), my friend, Jon, had noticed that Chad Ochocinco (Wide Reciever for the Cincinnati Bengals) tweeted about being in Indianapolis; he was looking for a place to go that evening to just relax and listen to some jazz music. Of course, Jon (and who knows how many others) tweeted back and told him about the Jazz Kitchen. Imagine everyone's surprise when Ochocinco later sent a message out that he would in fact be spending his evening at the Jazz Kitchen, and that the first 100 people to get in would be treated to free food/drinks, at his expense!
Of course, by the time our friends arrived for the party, the place was absolutely packed out and they weren't letting anyone else in the door. Jon found an employee and explained that they had reservations, that they were with the Vasey Party. Before they knew it, they were escorted past the crowds, into the restaurant, and seated at one of only two empty tables - one had been reserved for the "Vasey Party of 10," the other (right beside it), for "Chad Johnson Ochocinco!" While so many waited outside, hoping to catch just a glimpse of the NFL star, my friends sat right beside him, celebrating the birthday of a great friend, enjoying great music, and reveling in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
We definitely missed out.
Jon, at The Jazz Kitchen, with Chad Ochocinco
(Picture courtesy of Jon Collins)
Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"
When Jesus spoke these words to the crowds, people were shocked . . . not only because of what he was saying, but because of the authority by which he spoke them. He was clearly saying that, in the end, anyone who didn't truly know Him, would never be able to enter into Heaven. Christ's message was (and is) that it's not about what you do, or what you say, nor is it about the way you act (whether you act like a Christian or pretend to do godly things), rather, it is 100% about Who you know.
My friends got into the Jazz Kitchen that night because of who they knew and who they were with. Had they not been friends of the Vaseys, and had they never chosen to accept the invitation for dinner, they would have been left out in the cold, amidst a crowd of hopefuls.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
How well do you know Jesus? If you were standing in the crowd of people, back in the day, listening to Jesus talk, would you be left wondering which group of people he would put you with? Sometimes it's easier to do the work of Christ (you know, the "Christian-thing") than it is to really have a relationship with Him. In the end, on Judgment Day, will you be able to say, "I know Jesus - I'm with Him?" If so, what will His response be?
- Take some time to sit with Jesus. Ask Him to speak to you. Allow Him to assess your heart and honestly show you which group you would be in . . . then be willing to listen.
- Commit to doing whatever is necessary to get your heart right with God, daily, and to be constantly strengthening your relationship with Him.
- Memorize John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
- Talk to your friends who claim to be followers of Christ and share today's scripture passage with them. Share your thoughts and where you think you might land in the two groups he mentions, and why. Use it as an opportunity to begin some dialogue about what it means to truly know Christ.
- Share with your friends who are not Believers about today's story. Tell them about Ochocinco and how he extended an open invitation to anyone who wanted to join him, but that only the first 100 people who responded were let in that night. People were crazy not to respond! Explain how God has also extended an open invitation to join Him in Heaven and there's no limit on the number of people who can come, but there is still one requirement: it's all about Who you know. John 14:6 - "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father, except through me."
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