Words to Live By

S - Matthew 26:31-35, 50-56 (NLT): "“Tonight all of you will desert me,” Jesus told them. “For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” 33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” 34 “Peter,” Jesus replied, “the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. … 50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest’s servant. 52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” 55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous criminal, that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled."

O - The Scriptures really are a matter of life and death for the entire human race. They are God's written voice to the entire world … and the entire world included Jesus - the only true son. He is the Living Word, the Word of the Father in flesh, and he engaged, leaned into and never exempted himself from the Scriptures. They were not just a platform for his teaching but the locus of his success in the wilderness temptation. They were not just for talking but for living day by day … even when obeying them meant death for him. Under the threat and pressure of personal loss or death (in all aspects - socially, emotionally, relationally, financially, physically) we are tempted to 'set them aside' out of self-preservation or some 'greater good' we think is dependent on us or that we can and should do. Jesus never thought or acted this way. Though it was in his capacity to avoid/refuse the horrific events the Scriptures revealed, he would not and did not. The religious leaders set aside the Scriptures when they thought it best (condemning an innocent man). Jesus never did even when it cost him everything. When obedience means for us certain death, God has planned for us resurrection life. Jesus lived so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled and he expects his followers to do the same; to live out the words of the written voice of God while we're coming to him for life and listening for his speaking voice.

A - It is a narrow door - obey with no exceptions. It is a narrow door which leads to life even when death comes first. It is a narrow door which requires trust in the person because the plan will seem so impossible, sometimes brutally and ludicrously impossible. It is a narrow door which opens up to a very broad place where nothing is impossible, too difficult or too wonderful to ALL who enter through it. The truth is, when things are looking bad God is still being good - an extreme goodness based upon his awesome brilliance and limitless power. The Scriptures must be, and will be fulfilled … my assignment is to have this result include my willing participation, intentional pursuit and fierce personal loyalty to Jesus.

P - Living Word of the Father,
You reveal God to us exactly and you reveal our design as humans exactly. I admit there is no life apart from you and apart from you I can do nothing. Thank you for your written voice and for your speaking voice and that your sheep, your followers, know your voice AND you know us and call us by name. Lord, thank you for remembering me/us! Today is my day to engage your voice, written and spoken. I am not to reserve it for tomorrow or a more convenient time; I am never to set it aside according to my understanding. Rather, in fierce personal loyalty to you and with my very best on the line (even when by best is pathetic) I am to listen and obey for this is the way of life. Please pour your life into me and let your life come out of me - today while it is called today. Speak, Lord, your servant is listening and set to obey.
I love you back,
Steve