Who's Your Most Important Person to Reach?

S - "… Moses said, “The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who refuses to listen to this prophet will be rooted out from among the people.” "Acts 3 TS

O -  This statement quoted in Acts 3 is recorded in Deuteronomy 18.  A prophet like Moses will be raised up.  There is no one in world history who can meet this qualifier except Jesus of Nazareth.  The instruction Moses gives is that we must do everything he tells us. Jesus tells us that there is a commandment above all other others; that all other Scriptures hang or depend on it and that all of them are fulfilled exclusively in it. He tells all to not judge another but to get and keep the beam out of your own eye. This prophet (like Moses) tells us that he is something greater than Abraham, Jonah, Solomon, any temple or any religious tradition or Sabbath.  He pinpointed only one qualifier which would confirm the identity of his actual followers.  “I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my followers.”

                

A -  Religion, including Christianity, always complicates the straight forward instruction of Jesus. It makes specific what he left general and makes general what he made specific. The items noted above are given to me and to the whole world, all 7.4 billion. The issue is: will I do everything he says to do? He wants me to concentrate on my response, not another's. Jesus thinks that the most important person for me reach and influence is me:). I do want to live out loud everything he says to do.

P - Lord,

You were amazing 2,000 years ago and are just as amazing today. I accept your specifics and commit to living them out loud, not just saying them out loud. I admit that while I am not the only person you'd like me to influence I am the one you always want me to start with. Thank you for loving us first, most and for refusing to change your mind. I love you back!

Steve

Heaven's Discrimination Policy

S - "When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams. In those days I will give my Spirit to my servants, both men and women, and they will prophesy. … Change your thinking and be submerged, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for freedom from your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God invites, no matter where they live.” Acts 2 TS

O - These words are spoken to a multi-national crowd. The terminology used is undeniably inclusive with respect to God and his desires. Everyone, sons and daughters, young and old, men and women, you and your children, everyone no matter where they live. God will give his Spirit to everyone he invites without distinction in gender, ethnicity, age or religion. God's Spirit is given to any and all who respond to the person of Jesus.

A - Heaven calls all people to change their thinking and respond to a person -- Jesus. Earth calls people to change certain behaviors and respond to a religion. Earth is exclusive and heaven is inclusive. Earth thinks it can determine who is "in" and who is "out". Heaven is calling everyone to come in. God's no discrimination policy is why I get to be included and he wants me to have the same policy toward all. Jesus' one command is to love unconditionally and his consistent instruction is do not judge.  Earth wants me to judge all and love some. Heaven wants me to love all and judge none. I accept changed thinking … I will engage Jesus.

P - God our Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus who is the good news; the one who clarifies your person and purpose. Thank you for calling all and for giving your Spirit without discrimination. I welcome the ongoing process of transformed thinking, living, speaking and loving according to him. Thank you for actively and continually loving all people everywhere. I love you back! I want to live and pray in Jesus and in his name.

Steve

New Year's Resolution: Do Not Do Witnessing

S - "You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, and you killed the Author of life. But God raised him from death, and we are witnesses of this. … Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”" Acts 3,4 TS

O - Jesus comes to clarify the person and purposes of God. His closest friends and followers became witnesses of him and his resurrection.  The point of their speaking was not to replace the individual's experience of the person of Jesus which heaven has designed all humans to have.  In fact, as Saul of Tarsus can testify, the involvement of other humans is not always required to have such an experience and begin a relationship with Jesus (cf. Acts 9). Heaven’s desire is not people believing things about Jesus, but believing in him, i.e. having a personal, confident relationship with someone you actually, literally know. Being a witness involves what one has seen and heard first hand, not just what one has been told (even accurately informed).  According to Jesus: "This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent. (John 17)" You know if you know someone and you know if you only know about them.  

A -  Being a witness of what one has seen and heard (i.e. personally experienced) is very different from "doing witnessing" (i.e. saying to others what others have said to you). Religion wants its adherents to do witnessing.  Heaven wants people to meet Jesus and then be witnesses of all that they experience of him and his irrepressible resurrection life. What if we all decided to live this way?  Not in religious camps peddling religious ideas but in dynamic relationship with the One given to the whole world.  What if we stopped saying things others say about Jesus and restrict ourselves to that which he has given to us and we're experiencing?  What if we do the one thing he commanded? “ I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my followers.”

P - You who are the Good News to all People,

I accept your assignment to love you back and my neighbors as myself, my equal.  I promise to refuse to do witnessing and to only be a witness of our relationship together. I'll welcome you and your will on earth just like they do in heaven. I want to live out loud the beauty of knowing you.

So very glad to know you and be known by you,

Steve