Drawn by the Father

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” John 6:44-45

Ducking around bustling stalls and dismissing the familiar cries to purchase jewels, fine rugs, antique lamps, and tourist souvenirs, the young woman edged out of the bustling crowds, nearly knocking into a makeshift table half hidden under a rough cloth canopy.  

An elderly man was tending the table, lovingly lifting out a few handmade wooden items from a simple straw filled crate. Many scoffed at his meagre offerings but the affection he showed each one intrigued and drew her closer. Picking one up, she noticed it was intricately carved with tiny lettering and illustrated designs carefully hidden amongst the grains of the wood, the priceless work of a master craftsman.

Sensing her response, the man reached out and took the piece from her hand, running his fingers over the design, before returning it to her as a gift. When she asked the reason for his generosity, he nodded his head towards the passers-by.

‘Many walk by this stall unseeing of what I have to offer, others see and perceiving nothing of value, mock my work as that of a blind man, but their blindness is greater. You? You had eyes willing to see … you stopped.’
 
You stopped… How long has it been since we have stopped to listen to the call of the Father as He gently tugs on our hearts and invites us to draw closer and learn from His wisdom and wonders?
Do we even recognise His presence so near to us and yet so easily ignored?

Even the disciples missed His presence. After two to three years of living, eating, and walking beside Jesus, they ask Him to show them the Father. His reply challenged them deeply. ‘Don’t you even know me after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’ (John 14:9).

Do we recognise Him? The Father, who so longed for us to be brought into relationship with Him, asked His own Son to take on our fleshly form that He might become accessible to us.
The Father, who spoke and still speaks to us today, through the comforting and challenging words of the Son and the Spirit, longs to be involved in every part of our daily lives.

The Father works wonders in our midst to draw our attention and testify to His goodness and favour. Have we seen Him? Do we intimately know Him?

In walking with Jesus, in becoming a Jesus people, we are also called to walk and live with the Father daily. It is His voice within our hearts that teaches us sensitivity to the Spirit and opens our eyes to the words of His Beloved Son. As believers, His church, He dwells within us, and we dwell in Him as one.

- Anna Marie MorGan

Inward prayer: Pray that we would take the time to encounter the Father’s presence and go deeper in our relationship with Him.

Outward prayer: Pray that people would take the time to stop and reflect on all that testifies to the reality of God around them and so encounter the Father’s heart.

1 Comment


Tomi - September 11th, 2021 at 8:26am

Father pls draw all my unbelieving family members to you,and help them to yield to your drawing…please remove every veil that covers in Jesus name.

Thanks Anna Marie