S -
Matthew 15:16-20 (NAS): "Jesus said, "Are you still lacking in
understanding also? “Do you not understand that everything that goes into the
mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? "But the things that
proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.” For
out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness, slanders. "These are the things which defile the man; but
to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.""
O -
Religion (culture) focuses on what is seen (hands washed or not). The Kingdom focuses on what is unseen (the
condition of the heart). Culture wants a
better person and the Kingdom insists on a transformed person. Religion teaches people self-help while the
Kingdom offers people help. The first is
always talking about getting things out (anger, lies, greed, sexual immorality,
etc.) reducing the volume and becoming "a little better". The latter
is making itself available to come into the complete and sad internal reality
transforming it and creating a "new self." Religion wants us to work
harder to get such things "out" while the Kingdom wants us to
constantly throw open our lives to the person of Jesus and his transforming,
irrepressible, powerful, vibrant and eternal life. Culture puts and keeps the pressure on the
person. Jesus comes and takes the heavy
load from the person. One of the countless beauties of the presence and person
of Jesus is that he is not "Dr. Phil" from heaven bringing us a new
and improved version of self-help. He is the friend of sinners and re-creator
of all bringing us help not self-help.
A - In
the physical world how does one get darkness out of a room? I can't get darkness out I need to bring
light in. Culture (secular and
religious) is forever telling me/us to get darkness out while God's Kingdom is
forever calling me/us to let light in … and light is a person. Jesus said, 'I am the light of the
world.' Religion wants me to get out
anger and the Kingdom wants me to welcome in compassion. The first wants hate
out while the second wants love in. The
former tells me to expel anxiety while the latter calls me to let peace
in. Religion always wants more while the
Kingdom only wants all. Today I will
throw open my complete life to him who has loved me first, most and refuses to
change his mind … unto the transformation only he can accomplish.
P - Lord
who wants in,
I want you into it all. You are light, come into my darkness. You are peace, come into my anxiety. You are love, come into my hate. You are compassion, come into my anger. I welcome you and your will on earth/in me
like it happens in heaven. I say with
the leper, Lord if you're willing YOU can make me clean. I know you are willing and so I say YES to
all you have in mind. Jesus, I do love
you back!
Steve
PS Thanks for not being a Dr.
Phil from heaven but the Savior.
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