Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.” John 14:23 NASB

We will come – We need a partner, not a plan.  We don’t need a plan.  In my experience, every life plan eventually falls apart.  Human beings don’t see well enough into the future to make a plan that always works.  Furthermore, plans often take the form of a list of rules and actions.  They tend to become rigid and therefore, breakable.  Living by a plan often prevents adaptation to the battering of the world, producing discouragement.  If God had a wonderful plan for my life, I have long ago destroyed it with sins.  With that model in mind, my “plan” is second best, or far worse, not anywhere near the best that God once had in mind.  Plans just don’t fit what happens in life.  Fortunately, God doesn’t provide a plan.  He provides a purpose and a partnership.

Yesterday we took at look at keeping the commandments.  We discovered that being on the way describes all believers.  Today we discover that signing on to God’s purpose means I get more than one partner.  “We will come,” says Yeshua (eleusometha).  It’s not too difficult to imagine that “we” includes His promise to send the Comforter too.  So, “where two or three are gathered together” can be just you or just me walking with our three partners.  All for one.  You and I have plenty of divine help whenever it’s needed.  By the way, this is a promise, not a platitude.  Many friends may tell you, “I’m there for you,” but when you really need them they are nowhere to be found.  Not so with the partnership Yeshua promises.  “I will not leave you orphans,” He says and He means it.

Eleusomai is the future tense of erchomai (to come, to go, to move along in any direction).  When this verb is translated “to come” according to the context, it implies movement toward a person or place.  In other words, sometime after Yeshua spoke these words, He fully intended to move toward His followers – and He promised to bring some company with Him.  There is a clear picture of this action in the parable of the two sons, one whom we call “the prodigal.”  The father sees his son a long way off.  He doesn’t wait for the son to arrive.  He runs toward him, embracing him.  We need to add this parable picture to Yeshua’s promise.  Yeshua, the Father and the Comforter are not leisurely strolling in our direction.  They are coming as fast as they can.  They are running to our aid and protection.

Are you struggling with keeping the commandments?  Take a deep breath and look up.  Just there, on the horizon, Yeshua, the Father and the Spirit are rushing to your aid.  If you just stand still, they will be here quickly.  If you step toward them, they will arrive even sooner.

Topical Index: we will come, erchomai, John 14:23, partner