The Devil Really is in the Details

S - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. … Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:17-19, 33-37 NIV)

O - The problem with the religion of Jesus' day was not in its content but in the application/interpretation of it. The religious culture was using the Scriptures to strain out gnats and swallow camels according to Jesus (Matthew 23:24). The result? Their traditions opposed the God they claimed to serve and the source of their worldview and practices was "from the evil one." This is also the problem with the religion of the 21st century. Jesus calls no one to a cause or to convert to a religion. He calls all people to himself and to accept ongoing transformation in their thinking, speaking, loving and living.

A - Heaven doesn’t want me/us to become religious but real. It is not hoping I'll adopt certain religious practices but an ongoing relationship. We are not being called to a worldview but to a person -- and ultimately he will transform everything starting with me/us.

P - Lord,

I say yes to you and to your call to yourself. I don't want to strain out gnats only to swallow camels. Thank you that you're not asking me to change myself but to welcome you and you'll do the changing. I'll follow, you lead.

Yes in Jesus name,

Steve

Leprosy of a Different Kind

S - "While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”" (Matthew 26:6-13 NIV)

O - I wonder if Simon was still a leper at this point in the story of his life?  I'm thinking not, at least if Jesus had been asked to help.  At a time when street addresses and national identity cards were nonexistent the designation would stick even if his condition had been remedied.  Regardless, the woman finds her way to where Jesus is reclining and unloads her precious cargo.  The result is interesting on many levels but I'm thinking about two.  First, the value and resale of the perfume was not sought to increase the amount of working capital the twelve had.  Their first thought was it could have been given to the poor not it could have extended the reach and duration of our ministry platform.  This leads to the second thought.  Clearly they are not worried about money.  We have no record of Jesus ever being out of it.  Even in feeding the 5,000 the Scriptures make it clear they had both the funds (Mark 6:37) and the opportunity to buy the food (Luke 9:12) … he just had something else in mind (John 6:6). While he didn't own a chariot and had "no place to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20) he always had a place to sleep.  Apparently the twelve believed and lived out the reality of Jesus' teaching on money:  you can't serve God and money (even daily bread money) and don't worry about it … follow wholeheartedly and it will be added.

A - I admit that my training would have inspired me to think of the resale of the perfume as a great way to further extend whatever my current ministry platform might be.  Sell the perfume, put the funds into the ministry and then maybe give some of it to the poor or others.  This thinking is called good stewardship by the world and is identified as tragic by heaven (financial leprosy).  Jesus is calling all who follow, me included, to think differently about everything … to repent because the kingdom is near, not far away.     

P - God of daily bread and God of me,

I admit that I can't serve you and money … all money.  I admit that you're pleased to give us your kingdom and to add what is needed for daily living.  I admit that my thinking on this is often wrong even though it’s logical.  Thank you for this insight into the thinking of those who were closest to Jesus.  Thank you that transformed thinking, speaking, loving and living is your gift to all who will receive.  I accept and am so glad to be living and praying in Jesus' name.

Steve

The Boxed Set We Can't Live Without

S - "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:14-18 ESV)

O - Jesus' inaugural slogan identifies three realities for which the time is now. They are 1.the kingdom is near not far away, 2. repent (μετανοέω) which means to accept changed or transformed thinking about everything not just sins, and 3. to believe the gospel and the gospel is a person from heaven not just information from heaven. Jesus is the gospel.  This is the starting point for each follower each day and each circumstance any day and every day while it's called today.  The Devil, World (secular and religious) and untransformed humanity all take exception to these three at one point or another.  Jesus' point is there are no exceptions … the time is always now for these three.  They are a "boxed set".  The absence or refusal of one leads to the loss of all.  The daily acceptance of one leads to the embrace of all. This is beautifully confirmed in the events which follow his opening statement.  Andrew and Simon respond the way they do because all three are now … and the change in their fishing and thinking isn't something they do "for" Jesus it's something he does in them. They accept the need for transformed thinking and Jesus does the transforming (e.g. 'I will make you').  Please note the brothers' response was immediate (i.e. now).

A - Today for me holds no exception … the "boxed set" is true and waits for me to engage.  The kingdom is not a far off reality waiting for me to die before it "kicks in."  My thinking is in constant need of transformation … I get to bring every thought (not just naughty ones) into the obedience of Jesus.  And, my faith is not in a plan, book or place but the person who is life (cf. John 5:39-40). All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him (not to concepts, principles or promises).  I am called to his person not a cause and he's working everything for good.  His question to Nicodemus is his question to all: "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:11-12 ESV). Today, all day long, I will believe Jesus about earth.

P - Lord Jesus,

Thank you for giving to the whole world this boxed set … this open door to real and forever life each day.  I admit that there are forces at work, within and without, wanting to bring me to a place which will separate, diminish and ultimately refuse you, the nearness of your kingdom and my ongoing need of transformed thinking.  Relying on you, I will follow today and believe you about earth, not just about heaven.  I love you back!

Immediately,

Steve

Access Denied

S - "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

O - Most likely no one is surprised to hear Jesus talking about entrance requirements into the Kingdom that never ends.  The qualifier he identifies is available to all and is described as doing the will of my Father who is in heaven. The surprise is what won't work as a part of this entry qualifier. The things that won't satisfy the requirement include:

·         Correctly identifying Jesus as Lord.

·         Accurately speaking (prophesying) in Jesus' name.

·         Pushing back evil (casting out demons) in Jesus' name.

·         Blessing others (doing many mighty works) in Jesus' name.

Not only do these not make the grade as doing the will of the Father, Jesus will go on to identify them as works of lawlessness or iniquity.  Seriously?  If these things aren't the will of the Father then what are?  While all these activities appear to be in line with God's will on earth, and even when these activities bless others which heaven likes, there is an essential which makes and confirms them as the God's will and confirmation of our entry into the Kingdom.  The essential?  Love. God is love and his kingdom is a kingdom of love.  All of the cited activities can be (and have been) done without love; but the will of the Father cannot be done without love.  It is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22; Luke 10; Mark 12) and without love Scripture confirms all such actions end in nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

A - Culture (personal, secular and religious) is focused on what is seen while the Father and his kingdom focus on what is unseen.  Culture is about doing something to be someone where the kingdom is about being and all doing flowing from that.  Jesus calls me/us to himself and to his Father according to love.  From being loved and in love the doing takes on more significance than meets the eye.  It becomes rife with his relentless love and irrepressible life.  Today I intend to engage him, his will and this earth according to love.

P - God who is love,

Thank you for today and for having a will on earth which includes all 7.2 billion of my fellow earthlings.  I admit my need of your love so that I can really love.  You have loved me/us first, most and refuse to change your mind.  I do love you back and will rely on the love you have for me and us all to enable me to do your will on earth like they do in heaven … according to love.

In Jesus,

Steve

Shameless Living

S - "And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”" (Luke 9:23-27 ESV)

O - Shame is a very powerful force in human life and culture.  Jesus addresses this head-on as it relates to his person and to his words.  Does this shame dynamic apply to all of Jesus' words or only some of them?  Religion picks a very small portion of his words to connect with this direct statement about shame.  Jesus makes no such limitation.  All of his words are included.  Many will want to identify with the shame of his cross but ignore his words on daily needs and provision (Matthew 6:24-34), money and greed (Luke 12:13-34; 16:13-15) and on loving all and judging none (Matthew 7:1-6; Luke 6:37-42; John 15:12-17) to cite a few. The result is that we are taught to be ashamed of many of his words under the guise of good stewardship, practical living and how earth really works.  Aren't these the very issues he calls us to deny ourselves to?  Anyone means everyone.  Whoever includes all.  His metric is simple and clear: "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"

A - The term for shame (ἐπαισχύνομαι) has as its root the action of disfigurement.  This is how I can know if I’m ashamed of his words or not.  Am I believing/living his words or altering them (disfigure) to accommodate me trying to keep or save my life?  Either I will succumb to the shame of culture (religious and secular) and disfigure the words of Jesus or I will believe and live them … shamelessly.  I'll need heaven's help to refuse the shame.  The beauty is that heaven is near and stands ready to help.

P - Lord who is life,

I choose to lose … so you will find.  Thank you for clear words about earth so we can be empowered by heaven.  I accept this assignment according to love.  I admit that you are life and your words lead to life.  I also admit that I am little and weak and vulnerable to shame.  Thank you for refusing to be ashamed to call me brother.  I love you back and welcome your irrepressible life and power unto no shame!

Yes according to Jesus,

Steve

Terms and Conditions for Heaven and Earth

S - "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. … For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. … And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." (1 John 2:24-25; 3:11, 23-24 ESV)

O - The Kingdom of God offers eternal life to all who will believe. It calls all people to a simple and direct commandment which simultaneously engages heaven and earth according to love. The problem is that earth wants to redefine the terms of eternal life and believing. Earth makes believing all about "accepting" certain theological conclusions about the identity of Jesus.  Heaven keeps it all about an unqualified personal response to the person of Jesus (John 5:39-40). Earth wants earthlings to think eternal life is a status one obtains by holding on to a prescribed formula. Heaven wants earthlings to know that eternal life is a person who will hold on to them forever (John 10:28-29; 17:2-3). Earth says eternal life begins in heaven but heaven wants earthlings to have and experience this life beginning now.

A - Hearing AND abiding are connected to the promise of eternal life. Both the hearing and abiding involve more than information. I am to abide in him (not just the concept of him) and he will be abiding in me. This is a spirit dynamic which is lived out loud day by day by loving God back and all others as myself. Earth (religion) teaches that eternity is all about what place one will abide in. Heaven says it is all about with whom one will abide. With Jesus the place is not an issue. While the ultimate place maybe future the hearing, abiding, loving and living is now!

P - Lord who is life,

Thank you for wanting to abide in me/us and for calling all to abide in you unto the life that is really life. I accept the dynamics of being loved by you, loving you back and all others. I am very glad to be engaging heaven and earth as you intend. Yes to you and your kingdom on earth, in me, as it is in heaven.

Today while it is called today,

Steve

Note to self: You're Never Too Old to be Afraid

S - "On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

O - One of the signs that you're following the real Jesus is the oscillation between terror and amazement. In obedience to his instruction the disciples are engulfed by a killer storm; and this is only one of many storms they will face together because they're following Jesus. Earth had trained them to think of storms as seasonal, random from nature or judgement from God and always fearful. Jesus thinks of them as unavoidable, rife with opportunity and purposeful. His questions on that day to his followers remain questions for all of his followers on any day: "He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”"

A - All these years later, my problem is that after a season of smooth sailing I begin to think I'm past the season of storms. Maybe I'm thinking 'I've got this part of following down' and so storms in this area of living really serve no purpose. This line of thinking has consistently produced three results in me:

1.       I am once again surprised, shocked and afraid due to a storm.

2.       Jesus remains steady and unoffended at my less than stellar reaction. Together we revisit his questions.

3.       I end up amazed in confidence due to his presence and then by the resolution of the storm.

This serves to illustrate to me, and in me, the reason the work is believing the person of Jesus not a concept, promise or principle (John 6:29). The person has all authority in heaven and on earth and he's working everything for good … everything! The conclusion of King David is the conclusion for all who follow the Lord as Shepherd: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3 ESV)

P - Lord who is the Good Shepherd and my Shepherd,

Thank you for calling me to your very self to learn to think, love, live and speak the way you do. Thank you for the compass point of your presence recalibrating me in my littleness and fearful weakness. The work is not getting out of the storm but believing you. I accept this work; grateful that mustard seed sized faith is sufficient for you … unto everything being possible. I admit that every day and in every circumstance you already have in mind what you're going to do. You lead and I'll follow.

Looking forward to more amazement,

Steve