If at First You Don't Succeed - Accept Help

S - “Dear friend, I am not writing to tell you and your children to do something you have not done before. I am writing to tell you to love each other, which is the first thing you were told to do. Love means we do what God tells us. And from the beginning, he told you to love him.” 2 John 5-6 CEV

O - These verse come directly from the purpose heaven has for every human being every day and every circumstance. According to Jesus, loving is not only the first thing, it is always, without exception, the most important thing. It is the greatest command upon which all other Scripture depends (Matthew 22:34-40). It is his new commandment for his followers and it is the singular identifier, the only verification, of those who actually are his followers (John 13:34-35). The problem is not in people trying it or at some point intermittently engaging it. The problem is in accepting love as THE priority regardless of the situation. Culture (secular and religious) is willing and even encouraging for love to be A qualified priority but not the unqualified one regardless of the circumstance.

A - Heaven stands perpetually ready to enable all to engage and fulfill this command. In fact, it knows that without its direct intervention earthlings will be unable to so live. So magnanimously committed to empowering us in this essential activity, heaven doesn't even require us to perform it flawlessly; just truthfully. When failure occurs we are to admit, apologize, recalibrate and reengage. This is the beauty of unconditional love. Humans can never fully experience or express it until conditions arise. I accept this amazing and unflickering imperative. I choose to love and admit that all heaven stands ready to make it so … and to work everything for good.

P - Lord who is incarnate love,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for relentlessly loving us; for making the way and being the way for us to experience and express unconditional love. I need and want your love and I need and want to give love the way I am receiving it. I ask for and accept the help you offer … help, transformation not self-help and human effort.

The Conditions of Unconditional Love

S - “... Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1 NIV

O - Jesus experienced the limitations imposed on all humans and which all must face … the time to leave this world and all who are in it. Like us, he did not get to choose the timing or the method of his departure. Like us, he would not be able to decide if he would leave those he loved but only how he would leave them. He would leave them loving them all (Judas included) to the very end. Love is why he came. It is why he lived and why he died on earth. Love for his Father (John 14:21) and love for us all (John 13:34) to the very end.

A -  Is there any better way to live and die than this? All humans will love some. All will have an end. But not all, in fact it seems that very few, actually love all to the end. There are so many wounds and disappointments. The worst are the intentional which come at the hands of those close in; the bitter and inexplicable 'wounds of a friend'. This highlights the beauty and power of unconditional love; a love which cannot be fully expressed until conditions arise. And here is the one choice I do get to make … the choice to unconditionally love all to the end. An end which Jesus and all heaven promises is actually only the beginning.

P - Lord who loves all and is love itself,

Thank you for loving us no matter what. Thank you for being the way and for making the way for us to live, love and follow. You have loved us first, and most and refuse to change your mind … even when we give you reason to. I love you back. I choose you back. I choose love and will rely on you to enable me to do it.

Thank you for letting me live and pray in Jesus' name,

Steve

We Decide - Start a Fight or Make a Friend

S - “And he [Paul] entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” Acts 19:8-10 NASB 

O - The first followers of Jesus were called Christians by their detractors but never referred to themselves with this contrived label (Acts 11:26). The term is found in the Scriptures only three times and is not an identifier the Apostles, Elders and earliest believers ever used of themselves.  The only "label" is the one Acts mentions here (i.e. the Way).  It's the one Paul will use in his presentation before Felix (Acts 24:14, 22). In his discourse before King Agrippa, Paul will not accept nor engage the term Christian (Acts 26:28-29). It's a word Jesus never used and never intended his followers to use.  Conclusion? Heaven has never made one human being a Christian.  Humans make other humans Christians (humans make Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, etc.).  Jesus did not come to start any religion; let alone a religion called Christianity (John 4:20-24).  He came to call all people to himself without respect to religion, politics, ethnicity, social standing and the like. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16 NASB) Heaven makes us one in the person of Jesus not in a religion (“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 NASB).

   

A - In all of my national and international travel these last number of years it's been my consistent experience that if one speaks of religion it's easy to stop a conversation and start a fight.  If one speaks of Jesus it's easy to continue a conversation and make a friend.  Earth and Hell are happy for people to become Christians … Heaven wants all people to personally meet Jesus and become his mother, brother, sister and friend. “While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."” (Matthew 12:46-50 NASB) The exclusive distinguishing feature Jesus said would identify those who actually know and are following him contains no religious terminology. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."” (John 13:34-35 NASB) I’ll believe Jesus on Jesus rather than someone else.

P - God who loves all the people of the world,

Thank you for sending Jesus to bring crystal clarity to your person and purposes in heaven and on earth.  Thank you for loving all 7.3 billion of us and for wanting all of us to personally meet, know and follow Jesus.  I admit it takes a miracle and you commit to making it so.  Your intensions are clear: not amnesty but adoption. Not religion but relationship. Not converts but sons and daughters.  Thank you for letting and causing us to live and speak in Jesus.

I love you back,

Steve

Someone's Fool

S - “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. … Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:16-22, 32-37 NIV

O - Jesus' teaching on the practical necessities of life on earth (what one eats, wears and stores up) is given immediately following the story of the rich fool.  Both the story and the teaching rotate around the idea of no worry about provision for today or in the future.  The fool has no worry because of what he currently has and Jesus calls his followers to no worry because of whose they are (their heavenly Father loves them and will take care of them).  The rich guy is considered smart by the world and a fool by God. Those who believe Jesus about earth and daily bread necessities are considered wise by God and fools by the world. … “‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.’ The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” Luke 16:13-15

A - The world (secular and religious) taught me that a good steward is very concerned (code word for worried) about daily bread issues. Worry is a virtue in earth's understanding of stewardship and motherhood (e.g. worry is one of the "signs" of a mother's love).  Jesus instructs me (and all who follow him) to NOT worry.  When it comes to what we eat, wear and store up he directly tells us to not run after it and to not take it (legally).  He wants me/us to trust, follow and let it be added.  The pagans worry, run after it and take it. The stewardship I was taught by religious leaders is considered wise by the world … but directly refutes and refuses the instructions of Jesus.  They can't both be right, both be wise.  I choose Jesus!  “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.’” 1Corinthians 3:18-20

P - God of all,

Thank you for sending Jesus to clarify both your person and your purpose.  I gratefully accept his teaching on all matters and am thankful that you call us to live on earth with you as our Father; not a distant, uninterested deity.  I accept my part in trusting, following and receiving rather than worrying, running and taking.  I will believe Jesus about earth and not just about heaven (John 3:11-12).

Living in Jesus and his name,

Steve 

Heaven's Proof Positive

S - “The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; … The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.” John 2:13-15, 18-22 NASB

O - Jesus was asked to prove he had the authority to do what he was doing; and what he was doing was polar opposite to the culture and prevailing belief structure of his day.  His answer?  Resurrection.  Resurrection is the proof of Jesus' identity and actions.  According to the Scriptures it confirms that Jesus is God's son, the Christ, the Judge, that he will return and that our sins are forgiven (“and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17 NASB). In fact, the resurrection is the proof that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that the Father loves him (cf. John 10:11-18). The context of Kingdom living here and hereafter (the reality which engages all the rest) is the resurrection of Jesus not the crucifixion.

A - The assignment heaven gave the Apostles was to be witnesses of Jesus' resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). The crucifixion is essential and beyond imagination but is not the point of the person, life and teaching of Jesus.  The resurrection was the focus and emphasis and was such for his followers and of all their speaking as recorded in Acts. Paul will say to the believers in Corinth (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 19 NASB): “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. … namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them …”  Since resurrection is heaven's emphasis concerning the person and activity of Jesus, shouldn't it be earth's and mine?

P - God of heaven and earth and all there is,

Thank you sending Jesus to clarify both your person and purposes.  It is a wonderful reality to experience your love and the power of resurrection life, spirit life, here on earth.  I am grateful that you are no longer counting sins and are calling all people to come near in Jesus.  I will join his followers in focused living, speaking, thinking and acting according to his resurrection and irrepressible life. You love the world and I thank you for letting me love you back.

Living in Jesus and his indestructible life,

Steve