You may have heard someone say, after describing the way that they do things, "That's just how I roll." All of Scripture depicts how Jesus rolls.  In our human nature we frequently desire to control things and spirituality is no exception.  At the root of sin is self-dependence and so we frequently turn to ourselves to "find God" or attempt to appease God by proving to Him that we really do love Him and want a relationship with Him (i.e. devotions, prayer, church attendance, tithe paying, etc.). 

According to the Gospel writer John, everything that was ever made was created through Jesus (1:3).  As a result it is safe to say that the creation account as presented in Genesis 1 and 2 found Jesus at the center calling everything into existence, including creating Adam and Eve out of the dust of the ground.  Not only did He give them life, but also gave them dominion over everything and simply encouraged them to be fruitful and multiply.  Before He left the young couple to enjoy each other, as well as all that was in the garden, He tells them that they can eat from any tree in the garden but not the tree containing the knowledge of good and evil, that in the day they eat it they would die (Genesis 2:6-7).  Clearly God never intended his creation to know evil, only good.   

If you are familiar with this story, you will remember that only three chapters into the Hebrew Bible Adam and Eve commit original sin.  How does the young couple respond?  They hide from God in their shame (Genesis 3:7-8).  How does Jesus respond?  He pursues the couple and simply asks, "Where are you?"  Adam and Eve are running away, Jesus pursues.  God always initiates. 

Throughout the Old Testament God maintains this trajectory of initiating contact with His creation.  In the New Testament the pursuit intensifies as Jesus becomes flesh and lives with His creation (John 1:14). 

By the age of 30, the public ministry of Jesus takes off.  Following His baptism, He begins by calling an eclectic, ragtag group of men that are to be His first disciples.  He starts traveling with them, but never ends up going more than 300 miles from His hometown.  He begins performing miracles and proclaiming the truths about the Kingdom of God.  Crowds begin to follow Him, people come out of the woodwork to hear Him, touch Him, see Him; but let's not forget, it is God who always initiates. 

Have you ever heard someone say that the ball is in your court?  I am assuming that the phrase comes from the game of tennis.  The server holds the ball, throws it up in the air, and hits it to the other side of the court.  Now the opponent must hit the ball back.  But in order to play, someone has to initiate the serve.  The spiritual realm is no exception to this principle. 

Looking through the Gospels, it could be perceived that many people initiated contact with Jesus and then He responded to them.  For instance, in John 3 we find a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus coming to Jesus alone at night (:1-2).  At first glance it could easily be stated that Nicodemus approached Jesus and not the other way around.  However, when you read Nicodemus' statement you will find that he starts out by affirming Jesus' works.  Nicodemus had already seen Jesus in action.  Jesus had first revealed Himself to Nicodemus.  But what about stories like the one found in Luke 8 when a woman reaches out to touch the hem of Jesus' garment, or when the official came running up to Jesus begging him to heal his dying son in John 4?  Are these not examples of people making the first move towards Jesus?   Stories like these are found throughout the Gospels, but when you think about it, these people are approaching Jesus because they've already either seen or heard the wonderful things that He has done and can do for people.

In our human nature it is so easy to want to take credit for things that we do.  But our spiritual walk is completely founded upon Jesus pursuing us, and never the other way around.  Consider these passages:

• 1 John 4:19 - "We love Him because He first loved us."
• Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."

So even our faith in God is a gift that comes from Him.

Jesus taught a parable about the Kingdom of heaven saying that it is "like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of grate value, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46).  When I first read that I nodded my head up and down thinking about how when I found Jesus that I decided to turn my back on everything to obtain Him, the fine pearl.  While it will never be argued that Jesus is the most valuable pearl in the Universe, I would never have known that fact had He not initially revealed Himself to me.  That being said, this parable must first read that God is a merchant seeking out fine pearls (the human race), who when He found you sent His son to pay the price to purchase you.  God always initiates. 

So the next time you read your Bible, pray, go to church, pay tithe, share your faith, or extend a service to someone in need, thank God for hitting the ball in your court as well as for giving you the power and desire to hit it back.  Whatever you do, roll with Jesus, because he first rolled with you.