Life IN Focus

S - 2 Timothy 1:1, 2:1 (NIV): "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus … You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

O - The correspondence is from a "father" to a "son", from a senior to a junior, from a quarterback to a team member, from one dear friend and brother to another.  It is written after years of being together and in the shadow of Paul's impending "departure" … code for execution--unjust, undeserved (just like Jesus).  The focus of the letter remains the focus for both of their lives … Jesus.  Notice that life and grace are IN Jesus.  They are not in verses of Scripture; accurate theological conclusions or corporately agreed upon creeds.  Paul and Timothy did not serve a mission or method or goal. They served a person.  Grace and eternal life did not come to them via what Jesus said nor by prophetic insights or scriptural promises.  Life (eternal, vibrant, irrepressible) and grace (amazing, indefatigable, sufficient) are IN Jesus and come from Jesus. 

A - I am not saved by what Jesus said or by what I think he said.  I am saved by Jesus, crucified and raised from the dead.  Grace is not found in the Scriptures or in truthful conclusions from them … it is found exactly as life is found; One Source, One Hope, One Savior, One Friend of the whole world. Jesus never called one person to a cause … only to himself.  Follow Me is the call (money, missions (causes/projects) and methods all want to divide us). Today I will follow him who is life … receiving the grace that is in him.  Today will be a very good day! 

P - Lord who is life,

I am very grateful to be loved by you … first, most and forever.  I am very grateful to NOT be called to a cause or mission or goal. Today I run to you for life and welcome your life and grace to flow into and to come out of me.  I'll stay near and follow … all the rest is up to you.  I do love you back.  Whatever is in your heart to do today my answer is yes.  Jesus, I am yours.

Steve

No Background Check Allowed

S - Romans 3:27-31 (NIV): " Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law."

O - Since God is not just the God of Jews but the God of Gentiles he is also not just the God of Christians but of all.  Culture, religion (Christianity included), ethic moorings and genealogical decent are all non-starters.  They are not and never were the point.  This does not nullify the Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) it upholds them. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)."

A - Jesus tells the world (John 10:16): "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." No matter what "pen" I hail from … he has others that are not of the pen I'm from.  Jesus never called, and never calls, a person to a particular "sheep pen" … he calls all people to himself.  "Follow me" is his invitation and command. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27)."   I am very pleased to be following him and to be discovering so many other "pens" with those who are doing the same. Following the person of Jesus really is the point; this alone is the beginning and the end (cf. Matthew 4:18-19, John 21:21-22) because he is the beginning and the end.

P - Shepherd of the Sheep,

Today is my only day to follow, to stay near, to listen and to love you back.  I am excited to think of all the sheep following you across the breadth of the whole earth.  I'm grateful for all you're allowing me to see and do with you.  Today, only Friend and Shepherd of the whole world, please cause your life to come into me and out of me so that I might be a reason another could believe.

Grateful for the work of believing,

Steve