S -
“So the Jews said to the man who had been
healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.”
But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up
your bed, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up
your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was,
for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus
found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that
nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it
was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus,
because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My
Father is working until now, and I am working.”” John 5:10-17 ESV
O -
Jesus is working with his Father … doing the work the Father is doing. How is it that he would heal this man after
38 years of crippling illness and not make sure the man knew who he was at the
time of the healing? Why doesn't Jesus talk to him about eternal life or ask
him to follow? Why would he tell him to
carry his mat when he knew that the religious leaders would be offended and
object to this activity (both the healing and carrying the mat) "on the
Sabbath"? The work Jesus was doing, this working with his Father, was very
different from the expectations of those who claimed to know and represent
God. Jesus believed that his Father was
already at work in each one he met and in each situation his faced. He operated
under the assumption that it was not up to him to accomplish all
of heaven's ultimate desires in every circumstance with every person
immediately. He was confident before,
during and after each encounter that his Father was working and would continue
to work.
A -
Religion taught me that God was only at work in those who had joined the
religion. Once you're "in" he
works. If you're not in you're on your
own. Jesus did not believe this and so I
won't either. I now know he's working in
all. In fact, he has 7.2 billion projects this very day (soon to be 7.3
billion). My part is to follow, get the
beam out of my own eye, and work with him according to that which he already has
in mind to do. I am not a project
manager for him. I am one of his ongoing projects. As such, he invites me, and all who follow,
to cooperate with him in the work he is doing in us and then with the work he's
doing in others.
P -
Father who works to this very day,
Thank you for working and for wanting to
work in me before asking me to work with you.
I welcome everything you have in mind to do in me. I admit both my need and my desire for
ongoing transformation. I look forward
to all you will do and to all you'll invite to do with you. I will hold every life in the hope of
transformation … especially my own. I love you back. Thank you for letting me live and pray in
Jesus.
Steve
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