“Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2a
Default to Jesus
Walk His Way Revisited
Default, in the context I am using the term, according to Merriam-Webster.com*, means a setting or option that a computer uses if you do not choose a different one.
I often visit blueletterbible.org.** It is a wonderful research tool, and this morning an even better teacher. I forgot to put the word I wanted to find into the little BLB search box, and when I clicked the arrow, it automatically sent me to the verses with the word “Jesus!” It turns out in the NKJV, Jesus appears 977 times in 941 verses, and in the NLT 1522 times in 1442 verses. How ingenious, and I am sure Spirit-prompted, of the creators of the site.
Of course, I immediately asked myself the question: when something comes up in my life, do I default to Jesus? When a trial, problem, concern, illness, or worry comes up, is Jesus the one I turn to, or is it to something else in the world: a friend, a self-help book, a doctor, an addicting habit? Don’t get me wrong—three out of four of those are good things. We need friends; there are wonderful books we can read to help in a given situation; and as a nurse, I am certainly not against the medical field and the wonderful doctors we can go to when we are sick. What I am asking is: where do I go to first or automatically?
Here are a few verses that called out to me:
1 John 5:4-5 NLT – “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
John 6:35 NKJV – “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’”
Matthew 19:26 NLT – “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’”
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Matthew 14:14 NKJV – “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”
Luke 7:48,50 NLT – “Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ …And Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”
Matthew 19:14 NKJV – “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’”
Lord, would You set our “default button” on Jesus? We declare that He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and loves us more than we could ever imagine. Whatever we might face today, help us turn to Jesus first.
I catch myself many times looking at other places for answers and I always wonder why my default isn’t ‘Jesus’ 100% of the time. But knowing the time is near, it gets easier and more ‘automatic’. And much more rewarding!
Amen! Thanks for writing!