To Die for - Literally

S - "While they were talking about what had happened, Jesus appeared and greeted them. They were frightened and terrified because they thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus said, “Why are you so frightened? Why do you doubt? Look at my hands and my feet and see who I am! Touch me and find out for yourselves. Ghosts don't have flesh and bones as you see I have." After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. They were so glad and amazed that they could not believe it. Jesus then asked them, “Do you have something to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish. He took it and ate it as they watched. Jesus said to them, “While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Christ must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to change their thinking in order to receive freedom from sins." Luke 24 TS

O - Jesus leads the way, is the way, for every human being.  He led the way through all of earth's very worst, requested forgiveness for those who manifested such tragic brutality and included in his kingdom any who would but ask.  Jesus accepts the most unjust, painful  and humiliating death any person can experience so that regardless of when or how people die -- he is and has made the way for them.  He is buried and waits for his resurrection.  Though he has the power to literally get up from the dead all on his own he waits.  His waiting, like his coming, living, teaching and dying, is for us. He will experience this so we can follow him through it.  He is the way to resurrection because he himself is the resurrection and resurrection life. His call to all people never changes: "Follow me."

A - Jesus thinks every human being is worth dying for and living for.  His entire life and experience on earth was for people, all people.  He didn't fulfill the Scriptures to prove they were right nor to prove his identity.  He did all he did for us (7.4 billion and counting).  He does this in such a way that all can literally follow in his steps … through death and resurrection - literally.  At our worst and the world's worst he refused to exercise his divine nature or prerogatives.  He humbly accepts the worst to guarantee us all the capacity to participate in the very best both heaven and earth offer; life vibrant and irrepressible, forever life.  I will follow him no matter where he leads or what I face.  He has loved us first and most and refuses to change his mind; even when I give him reasons to. 

P - Lord who is resurrection life,

Am still so amazed that you love us like you do.  Thank you for never quitting on any human; thank you for never quitting on me. You are the way and I will follow.  I really do love you back!

Steve 

Heaven Sent or Clever Facsimile?

S - "And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This Jesus is both True God and Real Life. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5 ‭MSG‬‬

O -  Jesus himself warned us to be on guard against all others claiming to be the Christ; or as stated above, all clever facsimiles. These cunning copy cats are not limited to individuals but include the "composite Christs" presented by religious groups and philosophical ideologies. It's a concern which became the motive for a letter in the Scriptures, Galatians.  “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” The Jesus of the Scriptures (of the four accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) is often very different from the Jesus of those who claim to be representing him. According to Jesus, there is a litmus test to confirm that we are following the real one and not a clever facsimile; the Jesus the Scriptures testify to but don't reveal (John 5:39-40). We should always believe Jesus about Jesus rather than someone else about him.  A Jesus humans can reveal is only a facsimile. The Jesus God sent is the Jesus flesh and blood cannot reveal (Matthew 16:13-19). 

A - The Jesus heaven sent (the Jesus of John 3:16) is himself the good news. He is the message God sends to the entire world (not just the religious or Christian world).  He is the same everywhere and for everyone while the composite Jesus isn't. I admit that I cannot reveal the Jesus who is life but I do know him and can share with others what I am experiencing in him and learning from him. He isn't a concept or principle we fold into our world view.  He's not a discovery made or an insight revealed by humans.  Jesus is a person reveal by the Spirit to be known and loved as a person … and he is the most amazing person one can ever meet.   

P - God who gives us Jesus,

Thank you for sending Jesus to clarify your person and your purposes.  I will rely on your Spirit as you intend.  It is such an amazing journey to be in league with Jesus; living in him not to him; working with him not for him.  Thank you for letting us live and pray in his name.

All my love,

Steve

Life Together According to Love

S - "From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!" 1 John‬ ‭1:1-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

O -  What makes a credible witness of God and his Kingdom is not one's theological prowess but one's relational experience with Jesus. Fellowship, life together, sons and daughters is not based upon a common creed or set of principles but on a shared friendship and ongoing experience of the person heaven sent to the world God loves (currently 7.4 billion). Jesus clarifies the person and purposes of God and his Kingdom. "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me." (John 12) Theological frameworks, religions and religious practices do not and cannot offer this. Only in Jesus is the entire world invited to experience God's love and adoption. 

A - As a child I was taught to sing "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so."  The Scriptures do tell us this. However, this is NOT how we are to know that we are loved. As an example, I don't know my wife loves me because the wedding vows we took included such a statement.  I know it because I am experiencing her presence and love on a daily basis.  I don't know Jesus loves me just because the Scriptures say it.  I know it because I experience him and his love day by day. He says “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Experiencing him and his love is the point. This is the joyous experience of communion with the Father and his Son referenced above.  I am very grateful to be experiencing him and his never ending love!  

P - Lord who loves us more than life,

Thank you for giving yourself to us day by day according to love.  I give myself back to you completely.  Though this exchange is drastically unequal it is the point of life forever with you in your Kingdom.

Love you back,

Steve