1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

I’ve always considered myself to be a people watcher. I have done it for as long as I can remember. I have for the most part imagined what is in their life. Everyone has a story, everyone has history and except for a few recognizable moments where you see yourself in the behavior in others, life is a mystery.

Yesterday I was waiting at a light and the traffic on the opposite side from me had their light turn green. As the lead car began to enter the intersection a young man riding a sporty motorcycle ran the red light and missed the lead car by inches. As the driver passed me I looked at her and saw her face plainly. I could tell what she was thinking, I did not have to read her lips to know what she was saying. I discovered in her that moment when I had felt that very same thing. We connected, even though she was unaware of me.

I do not know this woman, her name, her job, her life, but in an instant, for a brief moment, I knew one slice of her life. I knew this only because I recognized in me what I saw in her. That does not mean I know her. In comparison, with people I have known for years, I have witnessed only momentary slices of a life in which the other person was willing to allow me a close up view and I get to know more than just what is observed with the eyes. That does not mean I know them beyond that which they are willing to share. The rest is left to my imagination.

Tomorrow I will complete this thought as it relates to watching God.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Do you see the irony here? Jesus was not revealed to be the Son of Glory until after a falling away of disciples. The son of perdition will not be revealed without there first being another falling away. I also see a great irony in the use of 666. For me it seems to be a great piece of irony.

Hidden within these two texts is another irony, not so compelling perhaps but probably even more important than what I have point out thus far. It is hidden behind “let no man deceive you by any means”. I will be the first to tell you that irony can hide important issues. It will keep you focused on the glitter like fireworks on the fourth of July, but like that celebration, there is a deeper truth behind it all.

In both cases we are talking about who and what we call disciples and discipleship. I cannot deny that these were called disciples for the word called them disciples. So a disciple is a disciple even if after a short time or a life time they should stop following Jesus? We are called to make disciples. We are called to exhort and encourage, to teach and love one another for this is discipleship. But if after all that, whether it be for a short time or for a long time, they stop following Jesus, were they ever disciples?

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he (Jesus) abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

To paraphrase what Jesus told Peter about John, “Don’t worry about what I tell him, I say to you, follow me.”

I am only answerable for my own actions.