Destination is not Guaranteed

A feature of working with people through a series of Discovery Bible Studies to help them journey towards seeing Jesus and putting their faith in Him, is that there is no guarantee of reaching the desired destination. That destination - for each individual - is them embarking on a life-time following Jesus, finding their own momentum to keep going long after your sessions have stopped. The fact that we have to face is that whatever our best efforts, people may drop out, change direction, or drift away for a whole host of reasons.

We have to give people the freedom and space to do that, since the series of studies are intended to enable someone to discover for themselves - at their pace and readiness. To not give that freedom would mean that ultimately people are not making their own spiritual-heart choice to trust Jesus and follow Him as Lord.

Reassuringly for us, Jesus had to face the same issue. At the end of John chapter 6 a number of 'disciples' were finding his teaching too hard (verse 60), and some turned back and no longer followed (verse 66). Jesus apparently let them go, wondering if even the twelve might reverse direction. Remember also subsequent visits to his home town discovering a lack of belief despite all the healings and miracles in previous visits.

When we try to sit down with people to do such studies, we are praying and looking for those who seem to be open in the first place. That is not an exact science, unless the Spirit graciously gives spiritual discernment or words of knowledge! People who appear open may turn out to be less so, and even those who are more genuinely open can still change direction - much to our frustration. Yet this goes with the territory, and is an occupational hazard as part of the work.

Our role, through it all, is to continue to give opportunities for people to discover Jesus as best as we can, and to be faithful to that endeavour.