Experts and Eternal Life

S - "A teacher of the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?” The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’” Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.”" Luke 10

O - An expert in the Scriptures asked the Expert at everything a direct question regarding eternal life. In response to his question, Jesus asked him how he was understanding the Scriptures.  His answer was the greatest commandments, those upon which all other Scriptures depend (Matthew 22:40). They are not commandments rife with theological terminology or conclusions.  They are completely relational in their nature and in their engagement. They do not demand prayers, confessions, conclusions or creeds.  The Expert (Jesus) added nothing to them. Eternal life is found, obtained and maintained relationally.  According to Jesus, if anyone does this, they will have eternal life.  

A - Earth wants me to think eternal life is obtained by confessing a creed or accepting certain theological conclusions and to place my confidence in them.  The One from Heaven tells us that eternal life is found in a loving relationship and to place my confidence in a person. In fact, his definition of eternal life confirms this: “This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent. (John 17:3)” It is not knowing about God or Jesus, but knowing them.  This is a great joy and straightforward point of clarity.  You know if you actually know someone AND you know if you only know about them. According to Jesus, eternal life for us humans is where heaven touches earth … loving God and loving my neighbor (7.7 billion minus one … anyone who's not me). I believe Jesus.  I'll do this and I will live.  

P - God of all and God of me,

I am eternally grateful for Jesus coming to clarify your person and purposes.  Thank you for loving us first and most and for refusing to change your mind.  Thank you for wanting us to love you back.  I am glad to know you, not just about you. I accept the conclusion of the experts … I will love you back with my all and my neighbor as my equal. 

In Jesus,

Steve

First Things First

S - "If you love only someone who loves you, where’s the grace in that? Even sinners love people who love them. If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, where’s the grace in that? … You can see the speck in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the log in your own eye. How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don’t see the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First, get the log out of your own eye; then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye." Luke 6 TS

O - Jesus is relentless on this issue for all issues. The concerns, questions and exhortations never begin with another.  Always with oneself.  The question is not am I being loved or greeted by others but am I loving and greeting them.  It's not the lecture or input I give to another but the one I embrace from him which is to carry the day every day.  Not only does the speck in another's eye never excuse the log in mine … it can never be the place I start.  First things first … the log in my own eye.  Grace begins there.   

A - In the life, mind, heart and words of Jesus the starting place for everything is always the same.  It's always with oneself. The change our world needs starts with me not another.  It will never come through a policy, law or opinion. It can and must come through me. The most important person for me to influence, to reach, in any day and in any circumstance will always be me.  I agree with Jesus to always start there. 

P - God who loves the world to this very day,

Thank you for giving us the place to start … a place always available to start.  I admit that I'm never out of your reach and never out of my own.  I accept the assignment and the help to reach me.  Let me be the first to love all; first to greet all; first to get the log out of my own eye. 

Grateful to be living and praying in Jesus,

Steve

Another Opportunity to Believe

S -“Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead! I am glad I wasn’t there, because now you will have a chance to put your confidence in me. Let’s go to him .”Thomas, whose nickname was “Twin,” said to the other followers, “Come on. Let’s go, so we can die with him.” John 11

O - These sentences record a very curious source of joy for Jesus.  He'd received the news that his dear friend Lazarus (literally "the one you love") is sick.  He intentionally waits a few more days which end in his dying. All others will view this as a great tragedy and an inexplicable decision on Jesus' part. Not only so, but the bad decisions continue. Now that the friend is dead (nothing to be done) he wants to go to him; to a region where they want to kill Jesus. In the midst of all of this Jesus identifies a gladness he's experiencing.  The reason for his joy?  All of the tension, the inability to make sense of his decisions, the life and death matters, all of this presents his followers a chance, an opportunity, to put their confidence in him; to believe, to rely on his person alone.  

A -  This is not the first of such opportunities for the followers and it won't be the last. The work heaven wants all people to do (John 6:29) is primarily relational not theological. Faith in Jesus, believing in him, is all about reliance on, confidence in his person not theological conclusions about his identity. The theology is not the point … relationship is.  Following the One heaven sent will continually provide opportunities to so engage. It is a joy for heaven and a formidable challenge for earth. Following the Jesus sent by the Father requires us to oscillate between terror and amazement just as the first followers did. They found that the terror gives way to amazement … and this is my ongoing experience too.  Will I continue to rely on his person and not my understanding?  My answer is yes … joy for him and amazement for me!   

P - Dear Jesus,

I accept that following you, relying on you, being confident in your person is the invitation given to us all. You are the point, not a plan, principle or outcome. I admit that you always want to cross the lake and never check the weather and I accept your invitation to believe you. With David I say, the time I am afraid I will trust in you. Thank you for opportunities to believe.

All my love,

Steve