Right now we have the opportunity to choose which kingdom we would prefer to occupy our lives. We know that the apostles were attracted to Jesus and had their minds on Him when they said, “Rabbi, … where dwellest Thou?” John 1:38.
“Moved by an irresistible impulse, they followed Jesus—anxious to speak with Him, yet awed and silent, lost in the overwhelming significance of the thought, ‘Is this the Messiah?’ …
“Of one purpose only were they conscious. One presence filled their thought. They exclaimed, ‘Rabbi … where dwellest Thou?’ In a brief interview by the wayside they could not receive that for which they longed. They desired to be alone with Jesus, to sit at His feet, and hear His words. …
“He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” The Desire of Ages, 138, 139.
Does your heart burn within you with a longing you cannot explain when you repeat the words, “Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?” Asking that question, the apostles’ hearts longed to be totally connected with Him. The Holy Spirit was the source of that longing that drew their hearts to Jesus.
They desired to be alone with Him, to sit at His feet and soak in His words. Is that your desire? There was joy in the heart of the divine Teacher as these souls responded to His grace. The invitation is still open today. Come and sit at His feet and listen to His words and you, too, can bring joy to His heart by responding to the drawing of His Holy Spirit.
Jesus longs to establish in your heart the kingdom of righteousness and peace as He did in the hearts of His disciples. Many refused Him when He walked this earth, but those who did accept the invitation received righteousness and peace in their hearts through their time of trouble. Will you respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to “ come and see ”? Do not close the door to the call of One who seeks to establish in your heart His kingdom of righteousness and peace. With whom you desire to sit alone and spend time reflects which kingdom you seek—the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of this world.
Father: Put into my heart the words “Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?” Open my spiritual ears that I might hear the call “ come and see ” and give me grace to respond to the drawing of the Holy Spirit that I may desire to sit at the feet of Jesus and to hear His words. You have promised that if I delight myself in Thee, You will give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4) and I claim that promise right now. Amen.