I wrote earlier about “doubting Thomas” and suggested he could be known as “seeking Thomas” because he wanted his own encounter with Jesus. This leads to an obvious implication for ministry: I need to help folks learn to have their own encounters with Jesus: initially and daily. That’s why I push so hard for daily time with God. Meeting with God is for everyone.

However, the challenge is that not everyone wants such an encounter. This problem goes back at least to Exodus 20, not counting Adam and Eve hiding in the garden in Genesis 3. Here’s what the folks at the foot of Mount Sinai said:

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20.18, 19, ESV, emphasis mine)

A friend of mine tried to help his aging father meet with God through daily scripture reading and prayer. His dad’s response? “Leave me alone. If the pastor wants me to know something from the Bible, he’ll tell me!”

Since time with God is one of the first things I teach when I meet with a man, I was surprised when my friend had slipped out of the habit. When he told me, I wrote him this note:

I am surprised that you seem to be substituting “Our Daily Bread” for your own time with God. Please recall what we learned about hearing from God directly. “Our Daily Bread” is a fine publication, has been for decades. But it is, essentially, a record of other people’s times with God. Babies need pre-digested food, but grown-ups feed themselves. Parents feed others.

You said you don’t know where to read. The best thing to do is pick a book and stay with it until you’re finished. Why don’t you try the Gospel of John? Not even a whole chapter each day—just a paragraph. Start with John 1:1 and do a paragraph a day until you’re finished.

I hope I’ve earned the right to speak to you directly. I’m praying you’ll take action.

I’m pleased to report he did take action, starting that very day. Here’s the verse I closed my note with:

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.34, 35, ESV)