Heaven Calling Earth

S - Luke 6:33-36 (ISV): "If you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you deserve? Even sinners do that.  If you lend to those from whom you expect to get something back, what thanks do you deserve? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back what they lend. Rather, love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind even to ungrateful people and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

O - Jesus tells us that God's mercy is to be the compass point for all our interactions with each other. How merciful do we think the Father really is?  According to Jesus, God is so merciful we should love our enemies in tangible and practical ways. He's so merciful we should give and lend freely. He's so kind that even those who are living in direct opposition to his kingdom are included in acts of kindness, provision, opportunity and hope.  To underscore the nature of the mercy and kindness of God, Jesus will go on to live, think, speak and demonstrate this very reality; assuring all that he will only do what he sees his Father doing and say what his Father is saying.  Does the picture, description and conclusion we hold of God's mercy conform to Jesus' words and actions? How we think of the Father and his mercy is how we will treat others.

A - I was taught that God is merciful (there but for the grace of God go I) but I'd better watch out!  The implication was always that his "fuse" was very short and my risk of divine displeasure very great.  Rather than thinking of him as kind and generous in mercy it was more like impatiently tolerant with mercy. The point is not that there is no wrath or judgment but that it is not the place where he starts nor is it his primary response to tragically imperfect people (like me).  Today, toward myself and all others, I am assigned to start at love, lead with mercy and then face the facts … knowing that he is slow to anger and quick to forgive, having no pleasure in the death of the wicked. My assignment is to be a demonstration of love and he will work out the details with people along the way. This is beautiful because it relieves me of the burden of deciding where "the line" is for people. That is not now or ever my place.  I'm assigned the superlatives (the greatest commandments).  He's the only lawgiver and judge.

P - God who is All-powerful and All-merciful,

Thank you for wanting us to this very day; for loving us and for sending, giving, presenting Jesus to us so that we'd be able to see, hear, touch and believe.  Thank you that whenever my life, conclusions, assessments, words and/or attitudes do not conform to Jesus you call me to ask for and embrace transformation.  Father, please transform my being, existence, apparatus for living, thinking, loving, speaking into that of Jesus … who is your exact representation.  I not only want to receive your mercy and love but love and show mercy like you do.  Thank you for making my assignment clear and for insisting that I not attempt to do yours.  Today, cause the life of Jesus (resurrection-class, irrepressible and vibrant) to come into me and out of me. Today let me be as strong in mercy to others as you are to me. I'm asking, hoping and believing this in Jesus' name.

Steve

Christmas 'Last Words'

S - Luke 1:30a, 37-38 (TLJ): "The angel said to Mary … God can do anything! Mary said, ' I am the servant of the Lord God. Let this thing you have said happen to me!" Then the angel went away."

O - We live in a day and age where everyone always wants the last word; politicians, teachers, scientists, news commentators and religious leaders most often leading the way.  The Christmas exchange between the angel Gabriel and the young Nazareth virgin Mary (an unlikely pairing) hold the ultimate last words for heaven and for earth; for beings celestial and terrestrial. God's kingdom encompasses both heaven and earth and the last words of heaven to Mary and her last words to Gabriel reveal the only right conclusion both can come to.  Heaven says to all: God can do anything!  The point is not merely academic … it is personal and practical. Earth says to all: I am the servant of the Lord God. Let this thing you have said happen to me.  The beauty of these last words includes relief from our points of origin.  The focus is not where you're from or even what you're made of (heaven or earth) but rather what will be your last words to any day, any situation and any other person? What if we lived and shared these last words every day while it is called today?  Just think what could happen in heaven and on earth and in us!

A - As a human being reaction is a part of my make-up and design.  I can't always control my initial response to anyone or anything.  Fear, shock, anxiety can all emerge immediately and predominately in the midst of life on earth. In fact, fear is how Mary started her encounter with heaven.  She confirms the truth that it's not the first thoughts or words but the last which will really carry the day. My assignment is less about my first reaction and way more about my conclusion to any day, any situation and other person.  I want to embrace and live out loud these last words: God can do anything! Whatever he's up to I’m in!  Let it be to me just as he as planned and purposed!

P - Lord,

You know exactly where I'm from and what I'm made of and you call me to these last words for every day, every situation and every other person.  I do believe this to be true because of Jesus, your written voice and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  So, Lord, please let me follow you in this regard as well.  Let me think, speak and live these last words unto new wineskins, mulberry trees in the ocean and that which is too wonderful for me...unto Merry Christmas for all -- literally!

Steve

Christmas Life and Living

S - 1 Timothy 3:16, 4:15-16 (NIV): "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.  … Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

O - These words of chapter three are the Christmas Canticle … the singing of heaven and nature, the advent of Jesus who is God.  The words of chapter four help frame our response to the Person who is Christmas … to his advent then, today and that day which is sure to come.  The Lord calls us all to:

1.       personal diligence: this is not only to the activities of “ministry” but to the person and mystery of Jesus.

2.       complete surrender: a whole-hearted and unreserved response day by day.

3.       self-assessment: all application of truth begins with self not with another - the Lord's intent will be lost without ongoing 2X4ology (the log out of my own eye).

4.       steady perseverance: turning in not out, coming near and staying, giving our best even when it’s pathetic, fierce personal loyalty, blameless not flawless.

A - The New Living Translation renders 1 Timothy 4:15-16: "Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you."  Such a response to the mystery, coming and teaching of Jesus will not only be "good to me" but to "those who hear" me as well.  I want to be someone others not only hear (i.e. they're aware of the sound) but listen to. I want to be a reason others believe in the truly believable and only hope for our world.  I want to live out this relational and ongoing interface with him who is life and to make him glad and to bring him glory.  He is still looking to come into our world person by person … even so come, Lord Jesus!

P - Greatest Mystery, Greatest King, Only Hope for us and our world,

Please come (again and again … unto dwelling) into the dark stable of my life and our world and bring the radiant and irrepressible life and hope which are you. Lord, I know that you've come to me … and to our world and I  want to live out the response which never interferes with the true light which is already shining and the life which is really life.  I am asking this in the context of admitting my ongoing and desperate need of YOU … my life and our world need you all the time not just in rare or challenging times, not just in reflective and quiet times.  Lord, O Lord, in me and through me please increase the mystery and the message of your person, love, power and open-hearted response to the whole world.  Lord, let your unavoidably transforming spirit touch, shape, change, grow and enable my little life to become all it cannot be without you and all you intend for it to be because of you.  Let heaven and nature sing in and through me.

Gloria in excelsis Deo,

Steve

Streetwise

S - Luke 2:44-26 (NIV): "Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. … "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" "

O - Apparently, Jesus was a "street kid" for these three nights. A twelve year old on the streets of the big city with no one looking out for him and no place to call his own.  Did he sleep in some corner of the temple courts?  What did he do for food? We're not given any of these details.  When asked by his frantic mother about his days on the street he replied, I had to be about my Father's concerns (Luke 2:49). Most translations add the word "house" but it is not in the original text (Εν τοις του πατρος μου) - literally 'in the Father of me'. His answer is much broader than a location, building or religious system.  Jesus literally thought that his Father was working and that he should work with him … and all the rest would be added.  He believed and lived this at twelve as well as in his thirties.  He also calls all who follow to believe and live this reality with him.   

A - It's great to know that Jesus and his Father are already working.  They aren't waiting for me to work; they're just inviting me to join them.  They don't want me working for them but with them.  They don't want me to believe the lie of the world (secular and religious) that you're really on your own on this planet.  Jesus lives and confirms the truth that we are not alone, not on our own and not our own.  Today, I will believe Jesus about earth and not just about heaven.

P - Lord who lived on the streets,

Thank you for doing this … for living real life on real earth with a real Father and real kingdom; a kingdom that is at hand and not far away reserved for the day I die.  Thank you for working and for inviting me to join you in the work you are doing.  I admit that you already have in mind what you're going to do and I say yes to whatever part in it you have for me.  I am grateful that you want to work in our world and in us. I welcome you and your will like they do in heaven; without hesitation and without reserve. I love you back!

Steve

Caution: Don't Flat-line the Scriptures

S - Matthew 22:35-40 (NIV): "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

O - Scholars tell us that there are 613 commandments in the Old Testament and 1050 in the New Testament.  The answer Jesus gives to the expert's question reveals more than a statistical ranking. Jesus assumes and affirms that while all Scriptures are inspired they are not all of equal importance.  We know this because he tells us two are more important than all the rest; two are the superlatives … the greatest.  In fact, these two are so important that all others depend (hang) on them.  According to Jesus, regardless of how many commands the Scriptures contain, if these two are not engaged then all the rest are of little or no value (cf. Luke 10:25-37).  

A - Through my graduate education I was basically taught to "flat-line" the Scriptures.  Since all are inspired by God then all are of equal importance or value.  Jesus says different. While all are profitable all are not of the same weight or significance. Why is this so? It is because the Scriptures are given to humans and humans communicate with a range of importance in the things they say.  Jan and I are approaching our 40th wedding anniversary.  Over the years we've engaged in a lot of communication.  All of the communication from Jan to me is inspired by Jan but not all of it is of equal importance.  When Jan asks me to take out the garbage it is a request "fully inspired" by Jan. However, when Jan tells me she loves me … this is of the greatest significance to me of all her "inspired statements" over the years.  Jesus identified the most important instruction for all humans for every day and every situation. Today, I accept this assignment recognizing that as I embrace these two all the rest (promises, principles and instructions) are moving towards me. Also, if I'm not engaging them, all the rest of Scripture is moving away from me regardless of what I claim or pray … all hang on these two. 

P - God who is love,

Thank you for sending Jesus so we would know what you look like and how you want us to respond.  Thank you for engaging us in this way so we would be able to come near and stay near.  I do accept this primary assignment of loving you back and my neighbor as myself.  I admit that the work to which you call me is the work of believing.  I am asking you for help, not self-help.  All of this I say in Jesus' name.

Steve