They call it "Jubilee" and
it appears to be unique to one place in the United States: Mobile Bay near
Mobile, Alabama. They say it happens on a night after an overcast day with
an east wind. And for some unexplained reason, the creatures at the bottom
of the bay suddenly become starved for oxygen. As the tide rises, they're
virtually beached in their search for some water that will meet their need
for oxygen. Suddenly, somewhere between midnight and dawn, there they are,
within your reach: crabs, shrimp, flounder, and catfish. It's seafood for
the taking!
People who live along the bay know there's no time to get ready for this
opportune moment; you always have to be ready. And there they are, with
their baskets and lanterns and tubs always near the door. When it's
Jubilee time, folks run out to the edge of the water to collect the bounty
that is suddenly within their reach. It's enough to enjoy all year long
sometimes. And when this incredible moment of opportunity suddenly comes
rolling in, people all along the shore shout that exciting word that makes
people drop everything - "Jubilee!"
Jubilee is a short-lived season of opportunity when the harvest is within
your reach. When the tide recedes, your opportunity is over. You and I may
very well be living in our own Jubilee and not even realize it; a time to
bring in a harvest that we can enjoy for all eternity. People we know who
can be in heaven with us forever if we seize the moment to introduce them
to our Jesus.
Jesus' disciples were about to miss just such a moment in John 4:35. They
were with Jesus among the Samaritans, a group of people who seemed
unlikely candidates to ever come to Christ. The disciples had gone into
this Samaritan town for groceries. Jesus' associates were so caught up in
getting lunch they had no thought of getting some lives to heaven.
In the meantime, Jesus had turned the heart of a Samaritan woman to faith
in Him, and her testimony to her fellow villagers suddenly opened their
hearts to check out Jesus. They were, by a work of God, surprisingly and
suddenly ready for Jesus. As they were streaming out of the village toward
Jesus and His disciples, Jesus gave this wakeup call to His followers,
then and now, "Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for
harvest." In other words, "They're ready for Me, guys. Don't just stand
there! Help Me bring them in!"
If you belong to Him, He's saying that to you. In your circle of
influence, He's got some people ready for Him. You can't see it; they
don't know it, but God has been doing things in their life to prepare them
to hear about Jesus. And He's counting on you to open a conversation about
Him while this moment of opportunity is here. In the words of Colossians
4:3-4, "Pray that God may open a door for our message...make the most of
every opportunity." You can pray that God will make ready people you care
about. He'll do His part. But in a very significant way, you are their
chance!
We have had a fantastic year of growth here at North Royalton and there's
still plenty for all of us to do to let people know what a great place it
is for us and FOR THEM! We've got lots to be thankful for this upcoming
holiday season and why not...it's Jubilee!
See you in Church,
Rev. Chuck
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