S - John
20:21-23 (TLJ): "Then Jesus said again, 'Peace be with you. It was the
Father who sent me, and I am now sending you in the same way.' Then he breathed
on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone,
their sins are forgiven. If there is anyone whose sins you don't forgive, their
sins are not forgiven.'"
O - In
what "way" was Jesus sent by the Father? Certainly in and by the Spirit. Yet, the
immediate application of the Spirit's presence was connected to forgiving sins
rather than demonstrating the Spirit's gifts of power. The issue of forgiving or not
forgiving sins was not empowering the disciples to "send someone to
hell" by refusing forgiveness; but a commission to never refuse to
forgive. It's an assignment with a
caution not an enablement with a threat. The way of Jesus is the way of
unflickering forgiveness; relentless love; defiant mercy.
A -
Jesus is the way and he calls me to follow him in that same way … the way he
was sent by his Father. It is not the
way of this world (secular and religious). The way of this world is always
afraid of something and the way of Jesus and his Father is the way which fears
nothing and always loves all. This how
Jesus was sent … not to condemn, not to judge (and he's even THE Judge), but to
serve, forgive, love and call all to come near and stay near. Today I will come near, stay near and follow
him in the way that IS Jesus. It's the only way the Father sends.
P - You
Who leads, sends and is with us always,
Today is in your hands and so
am I; whatever the circumstances and/or logistics coming my way the way remains
the same. I choose you, your way, you
who are the way. I want to start at
love, lead with mercy and then face the facts (mine and others). I choose to forgive any and all and admit that this alone is the marker of my own forgiveness. Thank you for tying the forgiveness of heaven
to my forgiving on earth … it is most helpful.
You lead; I'll follow unto the life that is really life.
All my love,
Steve
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