Know Your World

S - John 15:18-19, 21-22, 24-25; 16: 2-3(TLJ): "If the world hates you, remember that they hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as it loves its own people. But I have chosen you to be different from those in the world. So you don't belong to the world, and that is why the world hates you. … They don't know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to the people of the world, they would not be guilty of sin. But now I have spoken to them. So they have no excuse for their sin. … I did things among the people of the world that no one else has ever done. If I had not done those things, they would not be guilty of sin. But they have seen what I did, and still they hate me and my Father. But this happened to make clear the full meaning of what is written in their law: 'They hated me for no reason. '… People will tell you to leave their synagogues and never come back. In fact, the time will come when they will think that killing you would be doing service for God. They will do this because they have not known the Father, and they have not known me."

O - The difference between being "the world" and not being "the world" is never determined by one's religion.  Religion wants us to think that it is the line of demarcation but Jesus says differently.  Religion cannot be the difference because all religion is culture.  It is not necessarily bad it is just that it can never be the kingdom … just like my body can never be my spirit.  Jesus identifies the religious leaders and those who are practicing Jews as "the world." He confirms this when he mentions both "their law" (the Scriptures) and "their synagogues" (places of worship).  Jesus loves all and religion/the world loves only its own. 

A - Jesus did not say when the world hates but if it does because sometimes it will and other times it won't. When it does it is always for the same "reasons". The religious leaders of Jesus day claimed to know God and represent him and yet they refused the one he sent.  This shows me that it is never information, religion or cultural affirmations which determine my actual status.  Relationship with Jesus and his life in me is the only determining factor which distinguishes who we belong to and if one is in the world or not in world.  Jesus will come into any culture and is the friend of sinners.  Religion will have little of the first (meeting people where they are) and none of the second.  Jesus wants into it all … and so my place is to welcome him into it all and to join him there.

P - Lord Jesus,

Today is the day I have to love you back, to welcome you into everything and everyplace and to join you in the work that you and your Father are doing.  Help me to see and live the distinction you make between the world and your kingdom.  I loving admit that it all comes down to your person … you who are the light, life, word and presence of God.  Lord, I do love you back.

Steve

In the Event of the Overwhelming ...

S - Matthew 17:4-8 (NIV): "Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus."

O - Overwhelmed by God and his voice, overwhelmed by their own humanity in the overt presence of Deity, the three (Peter, James and John) fall facedown  terrified.  Religious thought will focus on the unworthiness of the three and might present a long list of why this reaction was appropriate to their sad and pathetic condition in the presence of God Almighty.  Jesus, however, takes a very different approach.  Religion affirms the need to be afraid.  Jesus touches them and says don’t do it; don't be afraid.  Religion says stay knocked down by God's greatness and Jesus say get up and stay near me.  Religion says cower but heaven says listen.  Earth/religion is always afraid of something and Heaven/God's Kingdom is pursuing all in love. Earth/religion is always adding something to our world view. Heaven/God's Kingdom always wants our attention fixed on only One … no one except Jesus.

A - A lot of things have overwhelmed me and have knocked me down in my years on planet earth.  Some were surprises, some deserved and most underserved. No matter what has knocked me down from heaven to hell, from self-inflicted to other induced, from deserved to the undeserved, the response and instruction of Jesus do not waiver because he never flinches, is relentless in his love and refuses to be ashamed to call us his friends and siblings.  The beauty for me is regardless of what has put me on the ground again Jesus offers the same instruction: Get up; Don’t be Afraid! 

P - Lord,

Thank you for this enduring and beautiful instruction regardless of knock down, fall down or just feeling down.  Today, because of you, your awesome brilliance, limitless power, extreme goodness, defiant mercy, relentless love, irrepressible life and transforming grace  I'll get up, refuse to be afraid and follow. I do love you back and fix my vision on you.

Steve