The View from Here (Earth)

S - “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. … And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind!” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and said to him, “We are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” John 9:1, 39-41ESV

O - Jesus comes to us NOT to judge but to establish the criterion by which all will ultimately be judged.  The dynamics of this assessment begin now; the actual finding is reserved for the day of his own choosing.  Though he is the judge he defers all judgment until then. It will be the difference between the seeing and the blind; and he is willing for all to see.  Unlike physical sight, spiritual sight is a function of light and choice.  Jesus is the light and humans make the choice. The blind man healed earlier in this day in the life of Jesus serves as the epitome of his point. With Jesus he is the literal embodiment of the reality all humans live in. Without light no one sees.  The embrace of this light is the choice given … to accept the intervention and instruction of Jesus … to go wash.  Those who refuse … refuse. “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. [Mal. 3:1.] This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust it, and rely upon it] through him. He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light. There it was–the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. [Isa. 49:6.]” John 1:6-9 AMP    

A -  The timing of the healing, the eyes being opened, was not in the control of the man born blind (see the full story in John 9).  He did not decide to be blind and he had no influence over the light.  His only option came when given the opportunity to respond, to accept, to embrace the light. Jesus was proactive in the entire process including the subsequent exchange which moved this man now physically seeing to spiritual sight as well.  I admit that I do not have light within myself; that I am not self-contained; that I need, day by day, the exchange with the true light which enlightens all people. The remedy to all spiritual blindness is a person, not a principle, promise or set of beliefs. I accept this standard of judgment, of assessment.  Blind to seeing; lost to found; dying to living all resolved in him.   “"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17 ESV

P - Lord who is light, life, love and the friend of all,

Thank you for setting the criterion of yourself and then giving yourself to whole world.  You are the only life, light, love, righteousness, power, mercy, grace, hope that heaven accepts and offers.  Yes, Lord! In my blind littleness I welcome your radiant greatness. Thank you for loving me (and all) first and most and for refusing to change your mind.  I do not refuse you but thank you for such great kindness. I love you back.

Overwhelmed at the sight,

Steve

God's Choice

S - “After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. … The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.” Acts 15:7-9, 12-14 NIV

O - Jesus lived his life on earth convinced that his Father was already working.  He didn't come to work for his Father but with him.  He didn't start this work but rather joined his Father in the work he was already engaging.  This was also the experience of the first followers, of the ambassadors Jesus personally selected to be witnesses. The Scriptures above confirm that God wasn't waiting but was already working … showing that his choice is a choice of no discrimination based on religion, ethnicity and the like. He is choosing, calling all people to become the people for his name, for the name of Jesus.  He's wanting us all to stop working for him and to start working with him.  Religion thinks God needs our help.  Heaven only wants our cooperation.  Religion is always trying to say who is "in" and who is "out". Heaven is calling all people to come near and stay near.  This story confirms the truth that on planet earth God is intervening and religion is interfering (see the complete story in Acts 15).   

A -  Heaven is working!  It's not waiting for us … has never waited for us.  Instead, it's inviting us all to join Jesus and his Father in the work they're doing. Will I accept God's choice?  Will I admit, believe, embrace the truth that he is already working even in the lives of those who are not yet aware of his activity?  Conclusion? Heaven is engaged in 7.4 billion "projects" and is heading toward 7.5.  It is working and already has in mind what it intends to do (John 6:6).  I'll do what heaven wants … follow Jesus, get the beam out of my own eye and work with him not for him.  I'll admit that I'm not a project manager but gratefully one of his projects.  I accept God's choice and God's intervention.

P - God who works to this very day,

I am so very grateful for the coming of Jesus who clarifies your person and your purposes.  I accept him and his clear and exact representation of you and your activity. Thank you for wanting us to join you in the work you're doing … so we can be together with you; even though you don't need us for anything.  Thank you for loving and wanting all.  Thank you for including me. I love you back. I welcome your intervention and refuse to interfere. I'll live and pray in Jesus and in his name.

Steve

The Best "Lean on Me" Song to Sing

S - “They then said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?] Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].” John 6:28-29 AMP

O -  The work, according to Jesus, is none of the usual suspects the world demands we consider to be the work. It wants making a living, improving your educational status and all activities related to productivity to be our work. To this relentless list religion adds another myriad of activities which we are to accept as part and parcel as the work God requires. Jesus refutes both optics on work and affirms only one - the work of believing his person. This work is not about believing promises, principles or plans but only a person. This is the work which keeps everything possible and only requires mustard seed sized faith. This work allows all who engage it to live out loud the scriptural direction to: “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP

A -  In my experience this work is work because something else is always wanting me to think it's the work. Of course at some point there are other activities to engage along with this work but none them are everything possible realities. It's work to keep the work the work because the other (even needed) engagements present themselves as the real work. The beauty of doing the work Jesus assigns me is it keeps everything possible every day and keeps me following him who is already working everything for good.

P - Lord who designed and understands life on earth,

Thank you for clarifying the work, for making it possible and for keeping everything possible for us each day. I admit all other "work" inspires me to lean on my own understanding rather than on you. I choose to believe and lean on you.

I really do love you back,

Steve

The Real Place of No Compromise

S - “God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! … When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask. … You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money. … Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 5:3, 6:7-8, 24, 31-33

O - Jesus instructs one way for us to think, pray and live while the world (secular and religious) teaches a very different way. They can't both be right and they are not compatible ways of living. Both lay claim to reality, to the way it is on earth. Religion accepts the secular view and tries to sanitize and spiritualize it. Jesus says this can't be done. All will end up trusting and engaging one way and refusing the other.

                

A -  Earth will encourage and insist on its own way. Jesus says he is the way. His only call is the call to follow him … Follow him in thinking, praying, living, loving, believing. I admit they are not not the same yet both seek my loyalty. I will be loyal to Jesus about the things of earth and the things of heaven.

P -  Lord of heaven and earth,

Thank you living and instructing us about earth, heaven and its interface in the here and now. Not surprisingly, it all boils down to your person, not to mere principles and promises. I believe you and accept your call to follow and not run after the things the Father knows I need and even wants to provide. I'll depend, intentionally rely, on you every day and for all things earthly and heavenly.

Thank you for letting me live and pray in Jesus and in his name,

Steve