Give Peace a Chance

S - "Jesus came near Jerusalem. Looking at the city, he began to cry for it and said, 'I wish you knew today what would bring you peace. But it is hidden from you now. … you did not know the time when God came to save you.' … 'Whoever loves the life they have now will lose it. But whoever is willing to give up their life in this world will keep it. They will have eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me. My servants must be with me everywhere I am. My Father will give honor to anyone who serve me.'" (Luke 19: 41-42, 44; John 12:25-26 TLJ)

O - Jesus in tears over people not geography, religious sites, historic buildings, vibrant markets or beautiful architecture.  A part of this huge miss is directly connected with the terms of peace heaven offers earth.  Repeatedly Jesus will describe the terms of peace; real and lasting peace here and hereafter.  It will require everything one has and is … everything! The people of Jesus' day were willing to have peace, they were peace lovers. But they were unwilling to engage the necessary response.  Peace makers are those willing to give all to gain all. The people he wept over wanted peace added to what they already had. Real peace does not and will not come this way.  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27). What would our world look like if we all accepted Jesus' terms for peace?  Is Jesus weeping over me the way he wept for those in Jerusalem?

A - The terms for peace are the same terms to be a follower … everything.  I would like to be among those who do not drive Jesus to tears.  If I give up everything he in turn will give me everything. If I hold on to anything I lose everything.  I accept the terms of Jesus for peace and for following … unto the life that is really life. 

P - God who is life, peace, hope and the transformation of all,

Thank you for loving us more than life. For wanting us at our worst and for refusing to change your mind.  I accept your terms of peace.  I choose to lose! I want to lay my life down so you will take it up; to lose it so you will find it and keep it.  I welcome you and your irrepressible life to come into me and out of me.  I would like to be a source of tears of joy rather than grief … I know you love me either way.  Jesus, I love you back.

Unto peace,

Steve

Work Site not Work Crew

S - "There is someone shouting in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make the road straight for him. Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made flat. Crooked roads will be made straight, and rough roads will be made smooth. Then everyone will see how God will save his people.'" (Luke 3:4-6 TLJ)

O - This Isaiah prophecy (Isaiah 40:3-5) is assigned to John the Baptist as he engaged his assignment from God.  He did prepare the way for Jesus and yet, exactly how did the valleys fill and mountains flatten?  In what way were the crooked made straight and the rough smooth?  Religion teaches that by pedigree (tradition) and performance (our "righteous" activities) such things happen.  Heaven completely disagrees.  How does God save people? The truth is He does the work … He saves us we don't and can't save ourselves.  Jesus, who is the Lord, makes the crooked road straight, fills in the valleys and makes flat the mountains and hills.  He makes the rough road smooth. God does the making; we do the welcoming and following.  Heaven has not set out to make any of us better.  Instead, Jesus comes to completely transform us.  Like Heaven, we are to depend on him.  Like heaven, we are to completely embrace him.  He is the way. He is life.  He is how God saves people. 

A - The verb connected with each work zone is "will be".  There is no doubt that the transformations happen. This is because of who is doing the work.  Like Jesus with his Father, we work with him not for him. The straight road I engage is my unqualified agreement with his person and everything he already has in mind to do. Even this recognition requires his activity, his help.  I am invited into the work he is doing, not primarily as a member of the work crew but primarily as the work site.  As for the others around me?  If I am embracing his work in me he is already working through me.  If I try and work on others for him I'm actually not helping at all.  Heaven doesn't want my help just my cooperation. This is how God saves me.   

P - God who is working everything for good,

I embrace, accept and fully engage the person of Jesus and everything he wants to do IN me.  I welcome your work unto the transformation of my life into all you already have in mind.  Please work in me.  I accept that I'm the construction zone not the construction crew.  I believe you! Thank you for all you already have in mind.  My answer is yes.

Steve