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23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24.

Jesus came into the world proclaiming the Word of God, His truth, as reflected in the prophecy of the Messiah foretold to the ages. We are challenged to replicate our worship of our Creator through the example of our lives accepting His Spirit and seeking His truth. Our worship is not defined only by our presence in a sanctuary but by the prayers and moments of our daily lives living in the guidance of God’s commands. Our love for our God opens our hearts serving as a vessel for the Spirit of the Lord. God’s presence, the loving grace of our Redeemer, can’t be seen, touched, or held in our hands but is gingerly carried in our hearts and reflected in our faithful living. We love the Lord with all our being, pursue His truths, and live faithfully in His blessings. We seek the life abundant.

““If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

 

We don’t endeavor this journey alone but with the aid of the Advocate. We have a Guide walking with us who is always a prayer away. Faithful living leads to the abundant life in Christ. Billy Graham once wrote, “Christ’s coming to the world proved that God was not happy with man’s unhappiness. He sent Him not only that we might have eternal life but that we might have life here and now, and that we might have it more abundantly.”1

For over thirty years Johnny Barnes would stand at the edge of a roundabout in downtown Hamilton, Bermuda smiling and waving to people on their way to work or to tourists beginning their daily adventures. He wasn’t begging for money or selling anything but expressing his efforts to bring a little joy to as many people as possible. People would drive past him daily just to lift their spirits. Johnny served as an electrician on the Bermuda Railroad until it closed in 1948 when he became a bus driver until his early 60’s. One day in route to work he passed Crow Lane Circle and lifted a smile and a wave to a passerby. The joy he received startled him and he continued to wave and wave… and wave. He spoke of an indescribable amount of joy coming from the experience and decided to retire from his job and greet as many as possible each  morning. When asked why the sunrise salutations Johnny, a man of deep faith replied, “We human beings gotta learn how to love one another. One of the greatest joys that can come to an individual is when you’re doing something and helping others.”2 In 2016, after over thirty years of smiling and waving to people, Johnny passed away at ninety-three. Today a bronze statue of Johnny Barnes, with his hands high in the air waving, is erected on the roundabout as a homage to his willingness to share his joy. The tribute is titled the “Spirit of Bermuda” and is a reminder to everyone to share love and kindness.3

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13.

Each day I am faced with a quiet internal battle to win the confidence of a reluctant and often distracted Christian (me) to keep learning, serving, stretching, and loving the Lord.  Our faith is a journey that provides frequent obstacles and learning opportunities and is not suited for cruise control. We often learn along the way because of the difficulties and grow in our understanding of the teachings of the Good Shephard. We slowly reshape our lives in God’s grace away from a self-indulgent world. Until we completely open our hearts to the grace of God we struggle to manage the darkness of the world around us.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:16-17.

Christianity is a life-long learning process without public milestones, certificates, or degrees. We are one common team of Christians learning, loving, and growing in fellowship and service. United in Christ we represent an amazing team. John Wesley wrote, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth”4

Prayer: Jesus teach us to pursue Your teachings and walk in Your ways always in the Light, the Spirit, and in the Truth. Bless our days and keep our aspirations vested in Your will. Inspire us to step today one step closer to the narrow gate. We make this prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

1 http://billygraham.christology.us/archives/739.

2 Max Lucado, Stories for Your Soul: Ordinary People. Extraordinary God. Published by Thomas Nelson 2024, Pages 141-143.

3 Ibid.

4 https://www.byquotes.com/authors/john-wesley.html

The Wesleyan Bridge is written by K.B. Kelly with the Reverend Valerie Mireb and Pastor Hank Brooks as Theological Editors and Debbie Kelly as Text and Content Editor.