When it comes to God, where do you start?

 

Where we start matters. Jesus comes to enable us to know where to start in our thinking, speaking, living, praying and loving. When it comes to God, he invites and instructs us to start at only one place - Father; more specifically our Father and the focus is love; that we are loved and wanted unconditionally (at our worst).  Religion wants us to start at Creator/Judge and the focus is sin (performance).  Theology wants us to start at Eternal/Almighty and the focus is accurate information (knowing about). Religion calls us to the Courtroom, Theology calls us to the Schoolroom and Heaven is calling us to our own room in our Father's House. "Then Jesus said to the crowds [all the people] and to his followers: … none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Don’t call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven." According to Matthew 23:1, 8-9

Essential to the Recipe of Life

S - "You are the salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on." Matthew 5:13

 

O - This dynamic described by of Jesus of Nazareth is admitted and admired by people of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds (religious and nonreligious). In spite of all the diversity in our world, the actual composition of the "salt" is just about universally missed; religion, politics, social sciences, education, business, etc. included. It's not missed because the understanding begins with salt's flavor enhancing and preservative qualities.  It is not in the admission that salt is required for us to live. The miss isn't because the universally accepted observation of "a little goes a long way" is erroneous.  The miss is in identifying salt as anything other than love.  Love universally enhances the flavor of everything it comes in contact with and is a preservative like no other. It really is essential to life.  

 

A - Culture tragically and consistently misses this essential conclusion.  It describes salt in terms of things to not do, of opinions to hold or refuse, of conclusions which promote judgment of others in the harshest terms. Jesus and scriptures are unflinchingly clear on the point that without love it all becomes noise and nothing even it is true.  No love … no longer salty … thrown out and walked on.  Jesus, and according to him God as well, always starts at love. It is the only place he instructs those who follow him to begin every day, every circumstance every person.  In the thinking, living and teaching of Jesus the salt of the earth people are those who love.  If we love we cannot fail and if we do not love failure is certain.  

 

P - God who loves the world (7.8 billion),

I accept the instruction, encouragement and experience of the salt you're looking for us to be.  Love is the only dynamic which offers the hope of life's greatest flavors and a longevity which has no shelf life. I admit that it is not the concept of unconditional love but the activity of it. Yes to salt! Yes to love! Yes to flavorful and vibrant living,

Loving you back,

Steve 

 

The Purpose of Unlimited Power

S - "After Jesus had finished speaking, he looked up toward heaven and said: Father, the time has come for you to bring honor to your Son, in order that he may bring honor to you. And you gave him power over all people, so he would give eternal life to everyone you give him. This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent." John 17:1-3

 

O - In this conversation with the Father, Jesus affirms the surprising purpose of unlimited authority. It is not to exert a forced compliance on others but to enable them to a relationship which is eternal life; a vibrant and irrepressible life. This humble and loving use of such power demonstrates God’s relentless love and his desire for ongoing relationship with the human race, individually and eternally.  

 

A - The Kingdom of God is relationships not theological conclusions or religious rituals. There is no one unreachable or "too far gone" to make eternal life impossible.  Without the direct involvement of Jesus and this power none of us will be able to engage the relationship which is eternal life.  It requires a miracle for each one to enter and remain in this eternal dynamic.   

 

P - Father of Jesus and Father of us,

You are not only amazing in your limitless power but in the way you choose to wield it.  This great dignity of choice and the relational dynamic which is your kingdom is mind blowing and heart melting.  I am intensely grateful that the possessor and dispenser of this authority is Jesus!  I admit the impossibility without him and so enjoy the knowing made possible by him.  We are completely and unconditionally loved and I love you back!

Steve 

The Essential Metric for Effectiveness

S - "You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. So I command you to love each other." John 15:16-17 TJB

 

O - Four sentences which continue to underscore the relational nature of the Kingdom of God which is near.  We are given the great dignity of choosing back the one who chose us.  

·       Our understanding and participation in the reality of God's Kingdom is never the result of our own intellectual or spiritual prowess.  

·       Producing anything that will last has only one starting place - love.  Without love whatever we're working on or hoping for cannot and will not last.  It must be our starting place each day, circumstance and activity.  We choose where we start.

·       In our metrics of assessment in all facets of life, if love is not the first and most important we've missed big.  I can actually know if I'm choosing and pursuing love … even if those around me don't think I am.  

·       The only direct command of Jesus is that we love each other.  Fruitful living and praying are directly connected to our engaging this instruction.

 

A - The beginning of all worthwhile activities is the same, love. My capacity to miss, drift from or refuse this reality is always present. Nevertheless, it’s something I can choose do to regardless of my current emotional state or opinion. Culture wants me to work longer, think deeper, study harder and acquire more as the way to successful and useful living.  Heaven wants me to love.  In fact, the Scriptures are clear on this point: without love it all becomes noise and nothing. Not only do I admit Jesus' command, I will embrace and engage it.      

 

P - Our Father, 

Thank you for the great dignity of choice and of choosing you back; of choosing where I start and what I will embrace as my primary metric of assessment.  An open heart, open heaven and open future are all connected to this always simple but not always easy reality.  I say yes to you, to love and the nearness of your Kingdom.  Am so very grateful that love and all its relentless benefits are only a decision away.

Grateful for the command and coaching of Jesus,

Steve

Where We Start Matters

S - "When you speak with God, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long speeches. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask. You should speak to him like this: “Our Father in heaven, we honor your name.”" Matthew 6:7-9 

O - Where we start matters.  Jesus comes to enable us to know where to start in our thinking, speaking, living, praying and loving. When it comes to God, he invites and instructs us to start at only one place - Father; more specifically our Father and the focus is love; that we are loved and wanted unconditionally (at our worst not just at our best).  Religion wants us to start at Creator/Judge and the focus is sin (performance). While God is the Creator Judge and sin is an issue it is not the most important one.  Theology wants us to start at Eternal/Almighty and the focus is accurate information (knowing about). God is the Eternal/Almighty and accurate information is not a bad thing but it too is not the most important one. Without love it all becomes noise and nothing even if it is true.

 

A - If we start at Creator/Judge and move toward Father that "father" is never fully pleased with us. If we start at Eternal/Almighty and move toward Father that "father" is distant and disinterested in us. Religion calls us to the Courtroom; Theology calls us to the Schoolroom; and Heaven is calling us to our own room in our Father's House. "Then Jesus said to the crowds [all the people] and to his followers: … none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Don’t call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven." Matthew 23:1, 8-9 

 

P - Our Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus so I would know where to start every day, every circumstance in my thinking about You, others and life on earth. Thank you for wanting me at my worst … for loving us first and most and for refusing to change your mind. Thank you for inviting us to our own rooms in your house.  I do love you back.

Steve

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” Albert Einstein

S - "About this same time Jesus was told that Pilate had given orders for some people from Galilee to be killed while they were offering sacrifices. Jesus replied: Do you think that these people were worse sinners than everyone else in Galilee just because of what happened to them? Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don’t change your thinking, every one of you will also end in ruin. What about those 18 people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse than everyone else in Jerusalem? Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don’t change your thinking, every one of you will also end in ruin." Luke 13:1-5

O - God sends Jesus of Nazareth to the world to clarify his person and purposes.  How would he begin the conversation?  What statement would he have Jesus start with?  Jesus begins the conversation by saying: "Change your thinking.  The kingdom of Heaven is near." The current events described in the section above shows him continuing the invitation and instruction to pursue a change in our thinking. To refuse this ongoing change is to end in ruin.  

 

A - Culture (religion, politics, etc.) is always trying to change peoples’ opinions.  Heaven is inviting and insisting on a complete change (transformation) of thinking. In computer terms it is a completely different Operating System (OS) not a mere change of programs or apps.  The new OS affects everything, every program, that runs on the computer.  The kingdom is near and is insisting on change, an ongoing transformation, of our thinking.  Jesus examples, describes and is the way of this transformation. I admit, accept and pursue this essential and ongoing dynamic of a change in my thinking!

 

P - God who sent Jesus of Nazareth,

Thank you for the clarity and essential coaching he brings to us and to our world.  Believing him about earth and not just about heaven is key. I accept that living this out loud is always more important than saying it out loud.  Yes to you and to following him.

Steve 

Why the Why Matters

S - "The next morning Jesus went out to a place where he could be alone, and crowds came looking for him. When they found him, they tried to stop him from leaving. But Jesus said, “People in other towns must hear the good news of God’s kingdom. This is why I was sent.” So he kept on speaking in the synagogues in Judea. According to Luke 4:42-44

O - This exchange between Jesus and the crowds of people looking for him is one of the many times he will state the purpose for his coming to earth. It is simply and directly identified. Jesus is sent by the Father to clarify his person and purposes. He is God's message to the world and he brings the exact representation of God's person and Kingdom. He tells the people "This is why I was sent." As will be stated all through the accounts, something greater than Solomon, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Jonah, David, the Sabbath, the Temple and the Twelve is here.

A - Whenever the religious and religions of our world lay their claim to Jesus of Nazareth they all present a reason, the why, of his appearing. Though there are many wonderful dynamics in the coming, living and teaching of Jesus, the priority he gives for being sent is to clarify God's person and purposes. This singular and consistent affirmation is the one reality all religious teaching and practice ignores and resists. This tragic response was true of the religions of the first century and is just as true of those of the twenty-first century. Jesus is not merely a very important part of God's plan; not a necessary actor to embellish the world's information base of God. He is the exact expression sent to the entire world. He says: "When a person believes in me, they do not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When they look at me, they see the one who sent me." What I am accepting as the why of Jesus' coming directly affects my response to God, his Kingdom and my fellow human beings. I accept Jesus' explanation of himself.

P - God of all and God of me,
Thank you for the crystal-clear picture given to all through Jesus. Whenever my picture of you and/or your kingdom is not identical to him, I admit I have the wrong picture and will actively recalibrate my thinking, living and loving … but will need your help. I am confident I will receive such help because of him.

Steve