'Years Later' Living

S - "Years later, in the desert of Judea, John the Baptist started telling the people: “Change your thinking! The kingdom of heaven has come near.”  John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, “In the desert someone is shouting, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.’” Matthew 3 TS

O - "Years later" is a striking phrase. There was the flurry of activity when John and Jesus were born, a brief glimpse into Jesus' childhood at twelve and then another eighteen years until John and Jesus fully engage their assignments on earth. Clearly the "straight path" that makes "ready for the Lord" is not an efficient one. There appears to be an awful lot of downtime in the lives of both men. Both would die prematurely from unjust death sentences. Both would actually spend a small portion of their short lives in the essential activities their assignments required (roughly one tenth). Why would this be? It seems that the answer lies in the relational nature of God and his kingdom. Earth places its emphasis on performance and output. Heaven, and the kingdom that is near, is focused on being and relationship. This really does require the change in thinking both of them herald.

A - I am certainly living in the 'years later' category. Looking back, I find that the greatest difficulties and satisfactions have come in relationships and being in/with Jesus. He would rather have me near than busy; loving more than being right; compassionate more than efficient; and then working with him and never for him. Neither John nor Jesus did everything they could possibly do. Both did everything they were asked to do. The straight path and ready way of the Lord is one of relational integrity not activity. According to Jesus the kingdom of God is relationships. His kingdom is not primarily efficient. It can't be because it is a kingdom of love and love is not primarily efficient. Even in the face of a major public failure Jesus has only one question to ask Peter and us all. It’s also the question to be asked at our greatest successes. It’s so important he'll ask it three times.  Do you love me? With Peter I say, yes Lord. You know everything. You know that I love you.

P - Lord who is love,

Thank you for coming to be God with us. Thank you for coming to clarify the person and purposes of God. Thank you for loving us first and most and for refusing to change your mind. I choose being over doing and relationship over production. Because of grace I'll come near, love, be compassionate and work with you not for you. I am convinced you are already working and will complete everything you intend to do. The joy is not in getting it done but in being together.

I love you back,

Steve