Going on vacation and attending the C&MA General Council are really good things, but after two weeks in Florida, we were sure happy to get home. We had a really great time as a family and built some fantastic memories. I’m happy to say that my streak of winning the family vacation mini golf challenge is still intact — even if I did only beat Alyssa by one stroke…. Phew! We spent a bit of time at the beach, and then a few days at Disney World too.
I admit, I love Disney World. We sure had fun. We rode Space Mountain, visited Pandora, played in Toy Story Land, toured the countries of Epcot, and yes… we even rode It’s A Small World — at Lauri’s insistence. One thing at Disney World caught my eye more than in the past, though — the unusually long lines to meet a Disney character.
Parents with their kids in tow, and sometimes even adults without kids, would wait in extraordinarily long lines to hug and get their picture taken with Mickey Mouse or Cinderella. Of course, they aren’t REALLY Mickey or Cinderella… they are actors wearing costumes of those characters who are playing a role. So… those folks wait in those crazy long lines… to meet a fake in a glorified stuffed animal costume.
Me? No thanks… the Pirates Of The Caribbean ride was calling. But it did make me think. You… me… we have met the REAL deal — The King of Kings. The Creator of the Universe. The Alpha. The Omega. Those lines reminded me… that if parents would stand in the hot Florida sun so that their kid could meet Mickey, what lengths am I willing to go to so that people will meet Jesus?
Listen to this compelling narration from the Gospel of John. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. John 1:40-42 NLT. I know… it doesn’t SOUND like a big deal… but if you think that then you miss a huge truth. Andrew took his brother Simon — PETER to meet Jesus. Peter… the one who walked on water… the guy who exclaimed of Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” The one who preached at pentecost and 3000 people became followers of Jesus in one day… THAT Simon.
We have the real deal in Jesus, what lengths are we willing to go to so that others can meet Him?
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