More than a Change of Opinion

S - "After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand. When the local people saw the snake hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He didn’t drown in the sea, but Justice will kill him anyway.” Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn’t harmed. The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god." Acts of Ambassadors 28:3-6

O - As it turns out, the local people were right about Paul's violent past and wrong about Justice.  On a couple of different occasions, he will write about his life before encountering Jesus of Nazareth on the road to Damascus. He describes himself as violently persecuting the community of followers and trying to destroy it; a pursuit which involved imprisonment and death for those he was after. When Paul didn't die by the snake bite, the local people would change their minds about him and be wrong again. The straight-line (cause and effect) thinking of people often appears logical and accurate and is just as often wrong. What is required is a change of thinking, not just a change of conclusions or opinions based on certain subsets of input. Straight-line thinking isn't always wrong but at its best it is always incomplete. This is, in part, why Jesus starts his conversation with world by saying: "Change your thinking. The kingdom of heaven has come near." 

 

A - Nature defies (resists, refuses) a straight line. Trees are vertical not straight. The Himalayas are beautiful but not one of them is straight. Rivers don't flow in a straight line and the horizon is curved. So, who made nature? Who are we following? It’s true that the shortest distance between any two points is a straight line— but it seems he rarely takes it. Straight-line thinking is why the 12 want to send the 5,000 families away hungry. Jesus had something else in mind.  It is why the Scripture experts of his day misunderstood and misapplied Sabbath. Straight-line thinking is why the religious and political leaders killed Jesus. He says "Change your thinking. The kingdom of heaven is near." He also says "Unless you change your thinking you too will end in ruin." I will welcome and accept more than a change of opinion; more than conclusions based exclusively on sequential assessments. I'll pursue and embrace a transformed thinking made possible by God's Spirit and the Kingdom that is near. 

 

P - God of Jesus and God of me,

I admit that I need an ongoing change of thinking unto the life that is really life.  I will welcome this change day by day, relying on you for its clarity and effect.  Thanks for the beauty of creation and the beauty beyond straight-line thinking.

Steve  

Faith - it may not be what you think it is

 

S - "Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 

 

O - These are the words of Jesus spoken to the sister of his friend who had died four days earlier. He was talking about a resurrection on that very day and she was stuck in her theological framework. You can read the entire exchange in John's account at chapter eleven. So, what does Jesus mean by "if you had faith"? Is he provoking her to rehearse, enhance or alter some theological conclusions about his identity? Is having faith laying a claim to some promise or principle in scripture? The record is clear and the answer is no. In fact, the resurrection of her brother is not the result of her request, spiritual intensity or scriptural understanding. Yet, she sees her brother raised to life and the glory of God in it all.  Faith (the original language word) is not a theological term but a relational one.  It means to rely on or have confidence in.  It is not the result of theological definition but of personal exchange.  Even in her misunderstanding and failure to ask, she is relying on and having confidence in Jesus.  The rest is history and a glorious one it is. 

 

A - The opportunity of choice, the work heaven wants all people to do, is to believe (to have confidence in and rely on) the one sent by God.  Religion has made faith a theological term and heaven insists on keeping it relational.  The great thing for me in this story is that being near Jesus in relational confidence is more important than knowing what to ask for.  The sister won't miss because of who she is with; not because of her theological prowess or spiritual fervor. The same dynamic is offered to me and to all.  The invitation remains: "follow me and you'll be amazed at what you see."  All these years later I can say -- I remain amazed at Jesus and at God's glory.     

 

P - Lord,

Am so very grateful for your open-ended and unrelenting invitation to come near and to believe.  Thank you for insisting on a relationship rather than a religious practice; for the joy of knowing you and not just knowing about you.  Thank you for putting the face on God; for clarifying his person and his purposes.  

Confident in and relying on you,

Steve  

Known not just Known About

S - "GOD called again, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.” Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew GOD for himself. It was before the revelation of GOD had been given to him personally.)" 1 Samuel 3:6-7 MSG

 

O - This ancient event and text identify one of heaven's essential desires for all people.  The desire? That each of us would know GOD for ourselves, a relational exchange given to us individually, personally.  Religion is satisfied for people to believe its presentation of the facts about God.  It creates adherents, devotees and enthusiasts.  It develops gatherings, rituals, programs and organizational structure based on the information it presents. It calls people to believe in God the way 330 million Americans believe in Abraham Lincoln. Heaven has no such desire.  

 

A - Knowing someone and knowing about someone (regardless of how many facts about them are possessed) is not the same thing. Jesus of Nazareth clarifies eternal life with this same dynamic. "This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent." The beauty for me is not only can God and Jesus actually be known/experienced but we are also known by them. We are not just known about by heaven (the way the IRS knows about us).  We are known, loved and wanted even at our worst.  WOW! 

 

P - God who invites us to know,

Am so very grateful for you and your kingdom which is relationships. For the great dignity of choice given to us all so that we would have and grow in an actual relationship with you. I admit that I can't make you do your part and you won't make me do mine.  We choose together.  

Am grateful to live and pray in Jesus,

Steve