Will Ye Also Go Away?

Will Ye Also Go Away?
by Sheri Graham

I wanted to share something that the Lord has laid on my heart over the past few weeks. One morning when I was doing my reading, I came across some verses in John 6. Jesus had just finished teaching that He was the bread of life. That He was the Living Bread that would fill them and abide in them. Here are some verse quotes:

John 6:60 - "Many therefore of His disciple, when they had heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying; who can hear it?'"

John 6:66 - "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him."

John 6:67 - "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, 'Will ye also go away?'"

Then Simon Peter answered Him:

John 6:68-69 - "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."

When the teaching got too hard, some of the disciples left and followed Jesus no more. As parents, when what we hear the Lord teaching us (through His Word and His Spirit) gets too hard, do we bail out as well and not continue to follow Him for our lives and for our families? Will we also "go away?"

When the teaching gets hard (steps on our toes or is overwhelming) and others are turning away and not following Jesus any longer..will we follow suit? OR will we remain steadfast following Him because we KNOW that He is the Bread of Life..the ONLY ONE who can impart Life to us!

As parents, are we following Jesus because He is our Life or is it because we seek the benefits He brings us? What are we imparting to our children? We are to disciple them as the Lord disciples us. If we as parents are not truly being discipled by Jesus, then we cannot disciple our children as unto the Lord.

This phrase, "Will ye also go away?" has been running through my head alot lately. This is what the Lord has been speaking to me . . .

* When my children come to me wanting to me to do something with them, and I would prefer to sit and read, work on the computer, etc. what will I choose? Then I hear, "Will ye also go away?"

* When the heart training times get so challenging and I don't know if I can deal with one more battle . . . I hear "Will ye also go away?"

* When responsibilities at home, such as getting the house organized & cleaned, meals prepared, laundry done, etc. are needing attention, and I would prefer to just sit or leave the house to do something with the kids (to avoid my ministry at home) . . . I hear "Will ye also go away?"

* When my children are eager to tell me something and I am in the middle of doing something else. . . will I stop to "really" listen to them or . . . then I hear "Will ye also go away?"

* When the best thing for my children is to bring them alongside of me during the day to really disciple them and train them up in the Lord, BUT I don't want to take the time - I hear . . . "Will ye also go away?"

* When I am feeling the Lord leading me to be a little more organized and intentional in educating my children at home, but I prefer to just "go with the flow" (and not get much done in the process because of lack of discipline and laziness) . . . I hear, "Will ye also go away?"

* When it is the Lord's will for me to be a true helpmeet to my husband and support, honor, and submit to him in the Lord - but I would prefer to do things MY way - I hear . . . "Will ye also go away?"

* When dinner time comes and I haven't been a good steward and planned ahead, I hear . . . "Will ye also go away?"

* When I sit down for my quiet time but then realize there is something else that needed done before the kids wake up, I hear . . . "Will ye also go away?"

* When I see sin in my children's lives and realize that they are a reflection of me - will I choose to go to the Lord to allow Him to change me first OR . . . "Will ye also go away?"

I could go on and on with ways that the Lord has spoken these words to me. It has challenged me in so many areas of my life. Will I choose to also go away? When times get hard, the teaching gets tough, and those around you are choosing the wide path . . . Will I also go away or will I choose the narrow path (Jesus) that leads to Life?

My prayer today is that this has been a challenge to you as well. May these few simple words penetrate our hearts and spur us on to choose His way - His Life - in all we do each day. May the Lord bless you!

In Christ,
Sheri