The Gift of Ambiguity

S - "When they were with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, are you now going to restore Israel as a kingdom?” Jesus said to them, ”You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power.”"  Acts 1 TS

O - The desire for information, to know what's next and what the plan is, hasn't lessened any from this first century exchange until now. The focus Jesus identifies here remains the same for all. His followers, those who are actually living in him and working with him, will not be relying on the power of information but the power of presence.    

A - Wait a minute!  Don't we need to know the plan?  What kind of handicapped living will that produce in those who are wanting to follow Jesus and welcome God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven?  Why this avoidable ambiguity?  We are not invited to rely on plans, promises or concepts. We are wanted and welcomed to rely on a person.  The ambiguity is a gift.  It keeps us in the best possible place: focused and near him who is irrepressible life.  When we're in his company, relying on him, everything is possible and everything is being worked for good.  Being near is more important than being right. He wants me/us holding on to him not a plan, engaging his person not a principle, fulfilled and confident in his presence not a promise.  I have discovered that I cannot escape this intentional mystery nor can I replace it with more "tangible" methods without ignoring/missing him. Children live this way and he has insisted that his followers do the same.  I am gratefully accepting this gift experiencing a deepening relationship and learning that his peace really does surpass all understanding.     

P - Lord who invites us near,

Am so very grateful that you want us near in ongoing relationship more than anything.  You keep offering yourself and I am so glad to have the privilege of offering myself back to you … not to your principles, promises or plans.  I welcome the power of presence.

Loving you back,

Steve 

The Basis of Resurrection Belief

S - "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus’ dearest follower and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don’t know where they have put him.” … The follower who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other follower did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise from the dead." John 20 TS

O - The very first followers of Jesus did not believe in his resurrection because the Scriptures foretold it.  They believed because they met, engaged, experienced the resurrected Jesus. Believing in the resurrection in principle because others do and/or because the Scriptures record it is NOT what Jesus or heaven has in mind.  From the first followers to the most recent, belief in Jesus and the resurrection comes not as a result of information but as the result of meeting the resurrected One. It is a function of spiritual revelation, not a conclusion of theological and historical assessments. Faith (belief, trust) is not a theological conclusion but a relational exchange … it is reliance on and confidence in a person.  Once you meet him … resurrection is a foregone conclusion.   

A - While there is "evidence that demands a verdict" this is not the basis of the faith once for all entrusted to that original group of followers. Faith in Jesus and in his resurrection is not based on a verdict but an encounter.  The encounter can come while the evidence is being reviewed but the two are not synonymous. John put it this way describing the basis of his faith: "We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us." 1 John1:1-2 NLT This is the breath-taking beauty of heaven’s invitation to all people - Jesus is to be known not just known about. According to Jesus who is resurrection life - The Kingdom of God is relationships … literally brothers and sisters, sons and daughters not scribes and debaters. 

P - God who sent Jesus to our world,

Thank you for wanting and offering us all a relationship rather than a religion. In the person of Jesus we experience the reality that we are loved and wanted … and the depth of this is in knowing him not just about him. I admit this is only possible by your direct activity in spirit - an ongoing relationship where your will and mine are required. Yes to you and all you have in mind in Jesus.

Steve

Huge Problem - Huge Relief

S - "One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and save us!” But the other criminal told the first one off, “Don’t you fear God? Aren’t you getting the same punishment as this man? We got what was coming to us, but he didn’t do anything wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom!” Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.”" Luke 23 TS

O - The exchange between Jesus and the thief who asked to be remembered is actually a huge theological problem. He doesn’t say any, not one, of the words religion requires for what it considers to be a bonafide “you get to go to heaven” exchange. He doesn't call Jesus Lord or ask for forgiveness.  There's no confession of truths, acceptance of standards or declaration of personal intentions.  It's a completely relational and dependent request; a response to the person of Jesus and exclusively dependent on Jesus. This underscores the reality religion claims to represent (i.e. God and His Kingdom) and completely misses.  God's Kingdom is not primarily theological; it is primarily relational. Its emphasis is not on right words but a right heart; not on right forms but on relational authenticity. This dynamic of complete reliance on Jesus is, in fact, the only hope any of us have to make heaven our home.  

A - Faith, belief, salvation, prayer, eternal life, heaven, etc. is about reliance on and confidence in a person, not a principle, promise or concept. Jesus' definition of eternal life is the capstone of the relational nature of God and God's Kingdom. "This is eternal life: that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." It's not knowing about someone but knowing them.  This is the beautiful mystery and reality God clarified in sending Jesus to the world. Jesus says to all: "Don’t let your hearts be troubled! Have confidence in God and have confidence in me … I am the way, the truth, and the life! … Without me, no one can go to the Father." Am grateful to know Jesus and not just about him. I admit my complete reliance and dependence on Him.

P - Dear God and Father of us all,

Thank you for loving and wanting the world and for sending Jesus to us all.  I am so grateful to know him and to be in a growing relationship with him.  He is the only hope I have and the only one I want.  Thank you for being all in for us and I want to be all in in return.

Loving you back in Jesus,

Steve