All Things not Just Some Things

S - Revelation 3:19-20 (NIV): “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

O - These words spoken by Jesus to believers identify very specific expectations he has on those who have come near.  Most of us have heard about the Lord's discipline according to love. The expectation is not that we'll never need any discipline or rebuke but rather that we'll respond to it by changing the way we think, speak and live (i.e. repent in its fullest and intended sense). The folks receiving this instruction were experiencing a serious uptick in their financial status.  Their personal booming economies had rendered them lukewarm and put them at great risk here and hereafter.  Religion/culture wants us to change the way we think about some things - Jesus wants to change the way I/we think, live, speak about everything.  He wants into one's entire life, one’s whole heart, having set his sights on a complete transformation.

A - Jesus wants into my complete life every day while it is called today.  I admit I normally think that when the blessings are rolling in one is in complete favor with God.  This is not true, has never been true and never will be true. Also, repentance (literally – change your thinking) is not reserved for sins but is required for all of my life, every quadrant and optic … I am always at risk to see myself or others like trees walking; to be thinking logically but not rightly; to have in mind the things of humans rather than the things of God. Jesus stands today wanting into my life and his desire is not for another Bible study or worship service. He wants in so that we can be together (eat today's main meal together) with his irrepressible life and transformation flowing into me unto the life that is really life.

P - Lord who loves unto rebuke and discipline,

Thank you for wanting in, for caring, for calling out to anyone who will hear your voice. Lord, I throw open the door/gate of my life to you and say please come in and see everything. Do everything that is in your heart to do and please enable me, according to your irrepressible life and power, to change and be changed.  I am edgy today and not exactly sure why. I am very sure that I am in desperate need of you, your company and care because that's how I am every day, all the time. I am very grateful to be called to you and to the beauty of change. Lord, I engage repentance unto eyes that see, hears that hear and a heart that understands - kata karis (according to grace).

Looking forward to our meal together,

Steve