Come and follow, come and see, come up higher. Always the invitation, always the bidding, always the drawing of our Lord and Savior Jesus. His calling to us never ceases to come away to be where he is. That for me started when I was 18 when He called to me out of eternity past to come and see. I was born again on a Good Friday. That was the day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior. There were no lightning bolts or choirs of angels singing, at least none that I heard, but I knew something in my life had profoundly shifted and I would never be the same. I still struggled with several issues including addiction and mental health, but seeds were planted. At this point, I knew nothing about deliverance or the resurrection power of Jesus. So, these things continued as part of my life even though I was a new creation in Christ. But the invitation remained, Come up Higher. Several years later as I was in college and in the full swing of addiction, He called again and caught me in the shower. I thought it was the drugs or my roommates playing a prank on me, but the voice called my name 3 times. I ran from the shower, to my room, grabbed my bible, and was prompted to go to John 21:15. This is where Jesus restores Peter. I knew in an instant, that he again he was calling me, this time setting me apart for ministry.

There is more to that story, but for another time perhaps. Apostle Ross has challenged us, me personally to come higher in Jesus. To not settle on or in the past places or hurts and to return to our first love, which is the Lord Jesus.

There could be some place or trauma that you may be stuck in, but that doesn’t define you. You may think your time is past or that you are too young. Moses was 80 before he led the people of Israel out Egypt. David a boy, when he was anointed king. Saul, who became Paul, was a persecutor of the early church, before he accepted the Lord’s invitation to Come and see. And these are just a few of the examples found in scripture.

We go from faith to faith. From Glory to Glory. We are all works in progress. Called to keep moving forward, to keep moving towards and keep becoming more like our savior Jesus. Come and see. Come up higher. In Jesus name. Shalom

By Daniel Iverson