The Making of a M.O.D.E.L … ECHO the call

“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echo, “Come!” Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, Drink freely of the Water of Life!

Revelation 22:17 MSG

Lingering in the fields amongst the wildflowers, ladies? What colors! The lush summer green hills along my favorite mountain trail are dressed in neon yellow randomly polka-dotted with rosy-violet thistle heads, all doing what they are designed to do: the former to stop erosion, both as sweet nectar for the myriad of bees.

Our Thessalonian models too do as they are intended to do: The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master's Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore—you're the message! (1 Thessalonians 1:8 MSG).

Although it is good that our lives echo Jesus’ Word, we cannot just be the message. We need to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks (us) to give the reason for the hope that (we) have (1Peter 3:15). How else will they know it is all about Jesus and not about me?

So we are compelled to echo the call, possibly summed up best in the little word, “Come!” Think of these significant times Jesus simply said, “Come!”

•            To the thirsty: “Come to me and drink (John 7:37).
•            On behalf of the children: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
•            To the twelve: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). 

By the end of the book of Revelation the writer, John, must be in total overload. Jesus has just said to him, “Behold, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:12). With that the angel chimes in with the standing invitation from the Spirit and the bride (the Church) for the thirsty to “Come!” Unfortunately, many will not hear that invite unless it is uttered by you or by me.

The neatest thing, as soon as you drink freely of the Water of Life, your story becomes the echo. As Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:38). May your soul sincerely ECHO the call of Jesus to “Come!” 

Nancy P