Love and Lying

S - “Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. … And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John‬ ‭2:4-5; 4:21‬ ‭ESV‬

O -The point of the instruction/commands is not a flawless performance but a relentless love, love from God and love for God and for all others. The world (secular and religious) wants to make a separation between loving God and loving others.  Heaven will not have it.  

A - Accepting this reality doesn't make it easier to do. It does clarify my status with God and my interaction with his commands.  It is easier to be right than to love.  It is easier to use Scripture, to make huge sacrifices or to attempt great things than to love.  Nothing is more important than loving.  If I am not leading with and clinging to love, then every Scripture promise and kingdom reality is moving away from me.  When love is carrying the day (the moment, the circumstance, the known and the unknown) then all of heaven is moving, rushing toward me and looking to flow into me and out of me into this world which God so loves.  

P - God who is love,

Thank you for clarifying all of this in the person of Jesus.  I don't want to be lying to myself about loving you.  You don't want me to think you're demanding an impeccable performance. Thank you for loving all unconditionally; for letting us love you back and have it matter to you; and for identifying the exclusive outcome of such an interaction: the love of others. 

Amazed again,

Steve  

Matters of Life and Death

S - "Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants to. The Father doesn’t judge anyone, but he has made his Son the judge of everyone. … You search the Scriptures, because you think you will find eternal life in them. The Scriptures tell about me, but you refuse to come to me for life. … Don’t think that I will be the one to accuse you to the Father. You have put your hope in Moses, yet he is the very one who will accuse you. Moses wrote about me, and if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me." John 5 TS

O - Since eternal life is a person (Jesus) and not an asset one secures against future unavoidable liabilities the instruction given takes on a remarkably relational context and purpose.  Eternal life, real, vibrant, death defying, irrepressible and refreshing starts now, not merely in concept but in personal exchange and transformation.  The call to eternal life is the call to Jesus and he is all about daily, ongoing relationship unto ongoing points of expression and change.

A - The purpose of the Scriptures, according to Jesus, is to tell (testify) about him so that we would come to him. He is heaven’s only point and our only hope. Life, grace, safety, hope, strength, wisdom, etc. are in him not in words, promises or principles. The humans who planned and demanded his unjust and undeserved crucifixion were those who regularly read Scripture, prayed daily and rarely missed a worship service. Today’s (and any day’s) reading, praying, worship have only one purpose. I will accept and live this out loud verse by verse, prayer by prayer and in each action of worship.

P - Lord who is life,
I am so very grateful that you alone are the purpose and the point … and you call the whole world to follow you into the life that is really life. Yes to you, to all you already have in mind. Thank you for giving us the great dignity of choosing you back.
All my love to you, Jesus!
Steve

The Right to Judge

S -"You judge in the same way that everyone else does, but I don’t judge anyone." John 8 TS

O -This statement of Jesus was made to the Religious Experts of his day. These leaders were skilled in the Scriptures and in the traditions dating back to Moses. Their "information base" was quite different from the Roman Empire which ruled over them. It was very different than that of the multitude of religions and cultures that were a part of first century Palestine.  Yet, they are completely mistaken and the problem identified is twofold.  First of all, they were judging; something Jesus says is not to be engaged before the end of the age.  And when it is employed, none of us will be the ones doing the judging. Secondly, having opposed and refused the first prohibition, these experts engage judging just like everyone else. Their conclusions are not the conclusions of heaven and are not superior to others. The right to judge has NOTHING to do with the accuracy of one's information base or the veracity of one's opinions (legal, religious, spiritual, cultural or otherwise). The right to judge has been given to only one human being and he's deferred all judgment to the end.  He expects his followers to follow his instruction: "Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated." Luke 6 TS

    

A -Following the Jesus sent by heaven is always simple but not always easy.  It is a formidable challenge to refuse judging others when one's information is accurate. Nevertheless, his instruction is crystal clear on this point. Earth thinks the most important thing is saying it out loud.  Heaven thinks that's not it at all. Jesus wants me to live each day as his work site not as a part of a work crew.  I'm the project not the project manager. All truth that is made clear to me has one intended purpose … that it would be lived out loud in my life. With Jesus, it's always the beam in my own eye not the sawdust in another's. Paul puts it this way: "God isn’t like anything that humans have thought up and made … now he says that everyone everywhere must change their thinking. He has set a day when he will judge the world’s people with equity. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death." Acts 17 TS

P -Lord who is the judge of all,

I accept your instruction and want to live it out loud.  I am very grateful to be one of the 7.6 billion projects you are working on day by day.  I regret all judgements I have made against others. I need help with the beam in my own eye.  I admit there is only one judge.  You lead, I'll follow.

Steve 

Where to Begin: Defense or Introduction?

S -"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. There he met Philip, who was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Jesus said to Philip, “Follow me.” Philip then found Nathanael and said, “We have found the one that Moses and the Prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and see.” John 2 TS

O -Philip's response to the terse and maybe even skeptical retort of his brother is not only worth noting but emulating.  He doesn't attempt to overwhelm the opposition with information or guilt laden reproof.  Instead of starting a debate he offers an invitation. Heaven has no intention of winning arguments; just hearts. Before the day is out Nathanael's heart will be won by experiencing the person of Jesus. Jesus doesn't need to be defended only introduced.    

A -Jesus is the only point heaven is making. It is primarily a relational point, not an informational one.  His definition of eternal life confirms this beyond any doubt. "This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent." It's not knowing about but KNOWING. Knowing requires an experience of personal interface. This was Philip's response to Nathanael and will be mine to all others especially when there seems to be some opposition.  Rather than responding with "Listen here …" I'll simply offer what Philip did "Come and see."  

P -Sovereign Strong and Lord of all,

Am so very grateful to belong to you by right and by grace.  Thank you for loving the world … all 7.6 billion of us.  Thank you for calling all of us into ongoing relationship with yourself.  I admit this is a function of spirit more than anything else.  I welcome the work, thinking, loving and living of you and your everywhere spirit.  I do love you back!

Steve