Plain as Day

S - "One day he was walking in the part of the temple known as Solomon’s Porch, and the Jews gathered all around him. They said, “How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly!” Jesus answered: I have told you, and you refused to believe me. The things I do in my Father’s name show who I am. But since you are not my sheep, you don’t believe me. My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all. No one can snatch them from his hands, and I am one with the Father." According to John 10:23-30

 

O - This exchange between Jesus and the religious of his day exposes one of the beautiful dynamics of God's Kingdom.  Jesus isn't just speaking with words but with his actions and interface with people and circumstances.  His sheep know his voice and his voice is more than words.  It is his activity, unmistakable and unending, in the lives of people.  One last note: the Jews didn't "miss" they "refused".  Religion is always scaring people with the thought that they will unintentionally miss God, his voice and his desires.  Jesus consistently clarifies this issue.  He and his Father are constantly working, communicating, loving the world.  Humans don't miss - they refuse.  

 

A - Theological training teaches that if you're not hearing words you're not hearing God. Why should it surprise any that heaven communicates with us the way we were made?  We humans communicate with each other on the basic 90/10 pattern (90% nonverbal and 10% words).  The beauty for me in being a follower, one of the sheep of his flock, is experiencing this type of communication again and again.  The result is life for today and forever … the irrepressible and vibrant eternal life which is Jesus.   

 

P - Lord who is forever life,

Am so very grateful for your active, ongoing love for all people of the world.  I accept your invitation to follow, to be one of your flock and the telling of who you are and what you're thinking.  For sheep and for children, the issue is always their proximity to another - the shepherd or their parents. Am glad to be consistently choosing to be near you … the experience of your person and presence.

Glad to be in your fold,

Steve  

Quiet Please!

S - "Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.” Acts of Ambassadors 4:19-20 TJB

 

O - Under the threat of death two of the first followers of Jesus of Nazareth give a very clear signal on speaking out.  What is often missed in their reply is the source and inspiration for their refusal to be quiet. It is from their personal interaction with Jesus not their well-intended opinions and observations from the Scriptures. It is that which they have personally experienced and been witnesses to in this regard.  John will later write: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard … .” 1 John 1:1-3 NIV 

 

A - Religion wants its adherents to do witnessing and heaven wants us to be witnesses (cf. Acts 1:22). The Scriptures' intent is not to give its readers information to debate, argue about or develop systematic theologies. Jesus clearly identified the purpose of Scripture. He said to the Scripture experts of his day: "You search the Scriptures, because you think you will find eternal life in them. The Scriptures testify of me, but you refuse to come to me for life." John 5:39-40 TJB. It is our direct, personal interface with his person and his spirit that is to be the basis for our talking.  Jesus is the ultimate material witness (John 3:11-12) and we are to be like him; material witnesses not the purveyors of scripturally inspired theories and hearsay. While I am welcome to my opinions on other matters, apart from my place with him as a material witness he insists: Steve, quiet please! 

 

P - Lord of life,

Am so very grateful to be experiencing you, knowing you, not just knowing about you.  I accept the limitation you want me to live and speak by.  I am not only willing to speak; I am willing to be quiet … just like you.  

I love you back,

Steve