Grandma was Right - Don't Follow the Crowd

S - “And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:46-52 ESV)"

O - I wonder when was the last time Bartimaeus had someone, let alone the Messiah, call FOR him? How many times had someone ignored him or cursed him or yelled at him? Had anyone, since he lost his sight, ever asked him what he wanted? The crowd saw him as an uncomfortable annoyance but Jesus saw him an open-ended opportunity. The crowd heard him as a discordant disturbance but Jesus heard him as a desperate human being. 

A - I am very glad for the way Jesus sees and hears. He wants me to accept transformation in my thinking (literally to repent - the term in the Scriptures means to change your thinking) so that I would be enabled to see and hear like he does. This transformation will also inspire me to give the way I have received … unto the life that is really life. I repent:)!

P - Lord who is always unintimidated,

Your open ended question to Bartimaeus is for me, for us. We can ask anything and nothing is impossible to the one who believes. Lord, I want to be transformed! I want to think, act, live and speak like you. I want your irrepressible life coming into me and out of me. I am asking for help not self-help. I want to see and hear like you. I am asking this in Jesus' name.

Steve

100% Healed not 100% Right

S - "We are followers of Moses. We are sure God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where Jesus comes from.” “How strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from. We know that God listens only to people who love and obey him. God doesn’t listen to sinners. And this is the first time in history anyone has ever given sight to someone born blind. Jesus could not do anything unless he came from God.”" John 9 TS

O - The man born blind was 100% healed but his understanding of God was off a bit.  He's right about the religious experts. Right about this first time in the history of the world occurrence.  Right about Jesus. His flaw? God only hears people who love and obey him and doesn't listen to sinners.  Jesus, the friend of sinners, came to earth to clarify the person and purposes of God. The experts have it wrong. The man who was healed has it wrong. Jesus, by life and teaching, makes it abundantly clear that God listens to us all.   

A - Once again this story illustrates a huge distinction which exists in all religions.  The Father of Jesus and the Father of Religious Thought, all religious systems and theologies, is NOT the same guy. All the systems have their erroneous conclusions based on their understanding of certain concepts, principles and/or scriptures.  Heaven isn't asking us to help by becoming an expert in religion or theology or even scriptures.  Heaven is inviting all to cooperate by engaging relationally.   Jesus said to his first followers and says to all of earth's residents: "I didn’t' come to invite good people but sinners … Follow me and I will make you…"  I will follow and live with confidence that Jesus and his Father are listening.

P - God of all and God of me,

Thank you for clarifying your person and purposes in and through Jesus. Thank you for loving the world (7.7 billion people).  Thank you for being the friend of sinners and for Jesus highlighting this truth again and again.  I do love you and want to obey you and am grateful that this is not why I'm heard by you. I'm heard because you love me/us.

Love you back,

Steve 

The One Place on Earth Jesus Isn't

S - “And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. … And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:5, 6, 8 ESV)"

O - These verses not only record events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; they also identify the one place on earth he is not. The angel says 'he is not here'. The grave (i.e.  this burial spot/ dead) is the only place he is absent from. He is the friend of sinners so he is in all the places they go … all of them. He is anywhere two or three gather in his name … anywhere. He is with all of his followers and will never leave them or forsake them. Never! In fact, the very last thing he said to his Father in his garden prayer was "I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26 NIV)

A - I am discovering how very true this reality is. Religion taught me there are many places Jesus won't go. I now know this to be untrue. Religion threatens others with the fear of abandonment. This too is not true. I have found that the Scripture and the practice of Jesus contradict this directly and completely. He has loved us first, most (more than I'll know and more than I'll ever be able to reciprocate), and he refuses to change his mind (even though I've given him reasons to change his mind many times). The women's reaction is more and more my own.  I am absolutely astonished at him and a trembling of overwhelming love finds me again and again. 

P - God who is love,

I am overwhelmed again as I think your thoughts with you, consider again the resurrection of Jesus, experience your presence this very moment and remember your relentless love for me/us through everything. I want my thinking, living, speaking and loving transformed to be like Jesus. I want/need to believe Jesus about earth and not just about heaven. I accept my purpose in this day and every day - loving you back with my all and loving my neighbor as myself. I accept the work you have called me and the whole world to -- the work of believing the person of Jesus … believing in the One you sent. I welcome you and your will on earth, in me and through me, like they do in heaven--fully and without reservation. Thank you for wanting me to work with you and never for you. Thank you for letting me/us live and pray in Jesus' name.

Steve

Belonging not a Bother

S - "Some people brought their little children for Jesus to bless. But when his followers saw them doing this, they told the people to stop bothering him. So Jesus called the children over to him and said, “Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom. You will never get into God’s kingdom unless you enter it like a child!” Luke 18 TS

O - The method of entry into God’s kingdom is also the only way to belong. Childlike living is the only way in and the only way to remain in the kingdom. Children live lives of reliance. They rely on others (primarily parents) for protection, provision and direction day by day. Not only does this kind of life NOT bother the Lord, it is how he lived on earth. The most capable human being to ever live chose to live in intentional (not unavoidable) reliance. It is precisely how Jesus lived each day; he intentionally relied on his Father for everything.

A - What am I like? If I’m childlike I can belong. If I’m not I won’t even “get into God’s kingdom.” The world (secular and religious) wants me to self-rely on my talents, skill sets, history, resources and the like. It’s exactly how Jesus never lived and exactly how I can exclude myself from God’s kingdom. Jesus is the most childlike person to live on earth; a choice he made each day and each circumstance of his brilliant, powerful and amazing life. I admit he’s asking me to make the same decision and so will join him in the intentional reliance on another which keeps me in and near. "Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. Only people who don’t know God are always clamoring about such things. Your Father knows what you need.  But put God’s reign first, and these things will be yours as well. My little group of followers, don’t be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom." Luke 12 TS

P - Dear Father,

Thank you for sending and giving Jesus to us so we can know, with crystal clarity, your person, purposes and will. With him I choose to rely on you and your presence not myself. Am so glad to be loved and wanted by you and not a bother in this day by day living.

I love you back,

Steve