Another Opportunity to Believe

S -“Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead! I am glad I wasn’t there, because now you will have a chance to put your confidence in me. Let’s go to him .”Thomas, whose nickname was “Twin,” said to the other followers, “Come on. Let’s go, so we can die with him.” John 11

O - These sentences record a very curious source of joy for Jesus.  He'd received the news that his dear friend Lazarus (literally "the one you love") is sick.  He intentionally waits a few more days which end in his dying. All others will view this as a great tragedy and an inexplicable decision on Jesus' part. Not only so, but the bad decisions continue. Now that the friend is dead (nothing to be done) he wants to go to him; to a region where they want to kill Jesus. In the midst of all of this Jesus identifies a gladness he's experiencing.  The reason for his joy?  All of the tension, the inability to make sense of his decisions, the life and death matters, all of this presents his followers a chance, an opportunity, to put their confidence in him; to believe, to rely on his person alone.  

A -  This is not the first of such opportunities for the followers and it won't be the last. The work heaven wants all people to do (John 6:29) is primarily relational not theological. Faith in Jesus, believing in him, is all about reliance on, confidence in his person not theological conclusions about his identity. The theology is not the point … relationship is.  Following the One heaven sent will continually provide opportunities to so engage. It is a joy for heaven and a formidable challenge for earth. Following the Jesus sent by the Father requires us to oscillate between terror and amazement just as the first followers did. They found that the terror gives way to amazement … and this is my ongoing experience too.  Will I continue to rely on his person and not my understanding?  My answer is yes … joy for him and amazement for me!   

P - Dear Jesus,

I accept that following you, relying on you, being confident in your person is the invitation given to us all. You are the point, not a plan, principle or outcome. I admit that you always want to cross the lake and never check the weather and I accept your invitation to believe you. With David I say, the time I am afraid I will trust in you. Thank you for opportunities to believe.

All my love,

Steve

Perfectly Clear

S - "Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another. The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us loving kindness and truth. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.” John 1 TS

O - Jesus was sent to earth to clarify the person and purposes of God. He will only say what the Father is saying. He will only do what the the Father is doing. According to Jesus, when we see him we see the one who sent him. He is the only point heaven is making. He is given to the world (7.7 billion). 

A - If our picture or understanding of the Father isn’t identical to Jesus heaven wants us to change our picture. If our understanding of God isn’t exactly like Jesus we have the wrong understanding. Herein lies the problem. The Father of religious thought and the Father of Jesus are not the same. Since Jesus is the message and the point; let’s keep clear what he has made clear. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being ...” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV

P - God who sent Jesus,

Thank you, dear Father, for sending Jesus to all. I accept that he is the only point you are making here and hereafter. In him you clarify your person and purposes. Thank you for loving, wanting and welcoming all.

Amazed at and in Jesus,

Steve

No Strategies Wanted or Needed

S - “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" He said, "But I will be with you ..."” ‭‭Exodus‬‬ 3

O - Moses is invited into the activity God had already decided to do. Moses’ concern about qualification and the ability to actually pull it off is not answered with a review of his vita, gifting and skill set. He will never be given or asked for a strategy nor will he try and obtain or offer one. The success of his involvement is completely dependent on the One who’s will is being accomplished. God’s answer for Moses is an answer of presence and relationship not strategy. “I will be with you.” 

A - Children know the secret of life in the will and purposes of their parents. They don’t need or offer strategies just ideas and desires. They are always confident because of presence (who they are with). They are not loved or involved because of anything they know, anything they have or anything they can do. They are included by and for relationship not performance. God is not asking us to work for him but with him. God is not asking us to work for him but with him. He doesn’t not want our help but our cooperation. He already has in mind what he wants to do (cf. John 6:6).

P - God who works on earth to this very day,

Thank you for wanting us to work with you. I accept the light load of not needing to create strategies for you to empower or activities to help you out. Instead, I promise to cooperate; to work with you not for you. I’m excited to be in your company and by all you already have in mind to do.

I love you back,

Steve

Facing all the Facts

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 TS

O - Jesus gives eternal life and the definition of it.  Eternal life is not received by believing facts about someone. It is not obtained by committing to live by concepts or principles. It is not gained or maintained by observances, rituals or disciplines.  In the mind, words and life of Jesus eternal is a relationship; received and maintained by knowing someone NOT by knowing things about that someone. Simply put, you know if you know someone and you know if you don't actually/literally know them.    

A - Religion is satisfied for people to believe its presentation of the facts about Jesus.  It creates adherents, devotees and enthusiasts.  It develops gatherings, rituals, programs and organizational structure based on the information it presents. It calls people to believe in Jesus the way 328 million Americans believe in George Washington. Heaven has no such desire.  In the entertainment industry, there are fans, groupies, who scour and consume all available information on their heartthrob.  They frequent the places they hear they will be and follow them from city to city.  They can join a fan club and meet with those who represent the one they are enamored with or hear stories from those who know the person.  They can do all these things and more … and never actually meet or even have one brief conversation with the person they know so much about and give so much time and energy to. Heaven isn't recruiting fans, boosters or adherents. It is inviting the world (7.7 billion) into a relationship with a person. Knowing him and knowing about are NOT the same thing! It is in knowing him (not knowing about him) that eternal life is present.  As he told the sisters of Lazarus "I am the resurrection and the life." According to Jesus, knowing the facts will never be enough.

P - Lord who is eternal life,

Thank you for letting me meet and know you … and for wanting this to be true for all people. I do love you back!

In Jesus,

Steve 

Courageous Living

S - "After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."" Acts 27:21-26 NIV

O - It is not just the men on this ship who will need to keep their courage up. If it happens as God wills then not only will they all be saved from the storm, Paul will stand before Caesar. According to heaven Paul "must stand trial before Caesar." Like his Lord before him the secular authorities will condemn him to death for no reason at all. Like the events of Jesus' trial and execution the world will think they have the upper hand … and, as with the experience of Jesus, time and eternity will prove they did not. 

A - I keep wanting Paul to be free and God keeps wanting him to stand trial before Caesar.  This serves to illustrate yet again why I can have in mind the things of men rather than the things of God even when I'm reading Scripture and putting my best theological foot forward (cf. Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33).  Relief and confidence will come not through circumstances of our preference but the person of our devotion.  Jesus is life, is truth, is hope, is the King of kings … my assignment is follow and believe (rely on and have confidence in).  This is my heart’s desire.

P - King of kings and King of me,

I admit my flawed thinking … that on my best day I see through a dark glass dimly.  Lord, thank you for insisting I trust, follow and believe. Lord, with all that has transpired and all the still swirls around us I do trust you and am choosing to NOT lean on my own understanding.  I will follow you and refuse to take the lead … no matter where you lead or what I face. Lord, I believe and want to do the work of believing so that I can make you glad and maybe be a reason someone else believes.  Lord, my answer is yes.

All my love,

Steve

All In -- No Plan B

S - “Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”” Genesis 22:10-12 NRSV

O - The famous story of Abraham taking Isaac up Mount Moriah to sacrifice him is found in Genesis 22.  It's a deeply troubling instruction given to Abraham by God -- literally one of a kind, never to be repeated.  His response is immediate and unflickering. There is no threat made or consequence presented should he choose to not comply.  Yet, Isaac is the focus and hope for every promise God has given to Abraham.  Without Isaac, they all fail. The conclusion, stated above, identifies the driving factor in Abraham.  The fear of God.  This was not the fear of consequence, judgment or curse.  Psalm 147 tells us that those who fear the Lord are the ones who "put their hope in his unfailing love." Unable to explain the assignment, Abraham is convinced of the One he knows. . He goes not knowing why but Who. He and Isaac will return … and Abraham will forever be the friend of God.     

A - It is more than interesting to note that just before this encounter (Genesis 21) Abraham is instructed to send Ishmael away with his mother.  Ishmael was a human attempt to make God's promise happen. God never needs our help. He invites our cooperation.  After the birth of Isaac, Ishmael becomes a plan B at best.  The plan B is sent away (and is blessed by God) -- but God never has or needs a plan B.  Then plan A (Isaac) is put on the proverbial table as an expendable.  What was Abraham thinking?  Hebrews tells us: “… He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead ...” (Hebrews 11:17-19). I want to live all in, no plan B and full of hope in his unfailing love because I know him whom I am following. I don't just know about him, I know him. “His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147:10-11 

P - Lord of all and Lord of me,

Thank you for calling me to follow you, to know you and to live in you.  I want to live, think, love and speak like you.  My hope is in you and your unfailing love. In Jesus I am all in -- no plan B.

All my love,

Steve 

Public Enemy Number One

S - "While everyone was listening to Jesus, he said to his followers: Guard against the teachers of the Law of Moses! They love to walk around in long robes, and they like to be greeted in the market. They want the front seats in the synagogues and the best seats at banquets. But they cheat widows out of their homes and then say long prayers just to show off. These teachers will be punished most of all." Luke 20

O - Why would this group be at the very top of Jesus' "Most Wanted" list? Of all the people, and groups of people, to warn against … why this one? Compared to corrupt totalitarian leaders, human traffickers, mafia god fathers and drug cartel kingpins are they really the ones Jesus' followers should be most cautious of? Should this be the group which will be "punished most of all?" Why these teachers of Scripture? Unlike the "other bad guys" these folks are not only pretending to be good, but to be good in and for God. Everyone knows the others are what they are … and Jesus is the friend of sinners.  It’s the people who hide behind Scriptural concepts and words, manipulating circumstances and others, who are in deepest trouble; the people who think and pretend that they are not sinners and are better than others; those who say one thing and live very differently. 

A - This is, at least in part, Jesus' inspiration for turning over tables in the temple rather than beds in a brothel. It's the denial, the refusal to admit and respond to one's true condition.  So, what should we do to engage Jesus' warning?  Should we go on a mission to expose all the religious frauds we can find? NO! The way we are to guard against this most insidious of all human conditions is to NOT be/or stay in that condition.  Jesus wants us to cooperate with him by guarding ourselves against and refusing to become the religiously/scripturally astute and internally corrupt. I will accept my spot on the list of sinners and will avoid being added to the list of those "punished most of all." I will keep following Jesus as his friend.  

P - Lord and Friend of sinners,

I am very grateful for your unconditional love and for this unconditional warning.  I admit that the primary person for me to influence with any Scripture on any day and in any situation is me -- to not just say scripture out loud but to live it out loud. Without you it’s all impossible.  With you everything is possible.

Living in and relying on you, Jesus,

Steve