100% Healed not 100% Right

S - "We are followers of Moses. We are sure God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where Jesus comes from.” “How strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from. We know that God listens only to people who love and obey him. God doesn’t listen to sinners. And this is the first time in history anyone has ever given sight to someone born blind. Jesus could not do anything unless he came from God.”" John 9 TS

O - The man born blind was 100% healed but his understanding of God was off a bit.  He's right about the religious experts. Right about this first time in the history of the world occurrence.  Right about Jesus. His flaw? God only hears people who love and obey him and doesn't listen to sinners.  Jesus, the friend of sinners, came to earth to clarify the person and purposes of God. The experts have it wrong. The man who was healed has it wrong. Jesus, by life and teaching, makes it abundantly clear that God listens to us all.   

A - Once again this story illustrates a huge distinction which exists in all religions.  The Father of Jesus and the Father of Religious Thought, all religious systems and theologies, is NOT the same guy. All the systems have their erroneous conclusions based on their understanding of certain concepts, principles and/or scriptures.  Heaven isn't asking us to help by becoming an expert in religion or theology or even scriptures.  Heaven is inviting all to cooperate by engaging relationally.   Jesus said to his first followers and says to all of earth's residents: "I didn’t' come to invite good people but sinners … Follow me and I will make you…"  I will follow and live with confidence that Jesus and his Father are listening.

P - God of all and God of me,

Thank you for clarifying your person and purposes in and through Jesus. Thank you for loving the world (7.7 billion people).  Thank you for being the friend of sinners and for Jesus highlighting this truth again and again.  I do love you and want to obey you and am grateful that this is not why I'm heard by you. I'm heard because you love me/us.

Love you back,

Steve 

The One Place on Earth Jesus Isn't

S - “And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. … And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:5, 6, 8 ESV)"

O - These verses not only record events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; they also identify the one place on earth he is not. The angel says 'he is not here'. The grave (i.e.  this burial spot/ dead) is the only place he is absent from. He is the friend of sinners so he is in all the places they go … all of them. He is anywhere two or three gather in his name … anywhere. He is with all of his followers and will never leave them or forsake them. Never! In fact, the very last thing he said to his Father in his garden prayer was "I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26 NIV)

A - I am discovering how very true this reality is. Religion taught me there are many places Jesus won't go. I now know this to be untrue. Religion threatens others with the fear of abandonment. This too is not true. I have found that the Scripture and the practice of Jesus contradict this directly and completely. He has loved us first, most (more than I'll know and more than I'll ever be able to reciprocate), and he refuses to change his mind (even though I've given him reasons to change his mind many times). The women's reaction is more and more my own.  I am absolutely astonished at him and a trembling of overwhelming love finds me again and again. 

P - God who is love,

I am overwhelmed again as I think your thoughts with you, consider again the resurrection of Jesus, experience your presence this very moment and remember your relentless love for me/us through everything. I want my thinking, living, speaking and loving transformed to be like Jesus. I want/need to believe Jesus about earth and not just about heaven. I accept my purpose in this day and every day - loving you back with my all and loving my neighbor as myself. I accept the work you have called me and the whole world to -- the work of believing the person of Jesus … believing in the One you sent. I welcome you and your will on earth, in me and through me, like they do in heaven--fully and without reservation. Thank you for wanting me to work with you and never for you. Thank you for letting me/us live and pray in Jesus' name.

Steve

Belonging not a Bother

S - "Some people brought their little children for Jesus to bless. But when his followers saw them doing this, they told the people to stop bothering him. So Jesus called the children over to him and said, “Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom. You will never get into God’s kingdom unless you enter it like a child!” Luke 18 TS

O - The method of entry into God’s kingdom is also the only way to belong. Childlike living is the only way in and the only way to remain in the kingdom. Children live lives of reliance. They rely on others (primarily parents) for protection, provision and direction day by day. Not only does this kind of life NOT bother the Lord, it is how he lived on earth. The most capable human being to ever live chose to live in intentional (not unavoidable) reliance. It is precisely how Jesus lived each day; he intentionally relied on his Father for everything.

A - What am I like? If I’m childlike I can belong. If I’m not I won’t even “get into God’s kingdom.” The world (secular and religious) wants me to self-rely on my talents, skill sets, history, resources and the like. It’s exactly how Jesus never lived and exactly how I can exclude myself from God’s kingdom. Jesus is the most childlike person to live on earth; a choice he made each day and each circumstance of his brilliant, powerful and amazing life. I admit he’s asking me to make the same decision and so will join him in the intentional reliance on another which keeps me in and near. "Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. Only people who don’t know God are always clamoring about such things. Your Father knows what you need.  But put God’s reign first, and these things will be yours as well. My little group of followers, don’t be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom." Luke 12 TS

P - Dear Father,

Thank you for sending and giving Jesus to us so we can know, with crystal clarity, your person, purposes and will. With him I choose to rely on you and your presence not myself. Am so glad to be loved and wanted by you and not a bother in this day by day living.

I love you back,

Steve

Loved

S - "I have loved you, just as my Father has loved me. So remain in my love for you." John 15 TS

O - Jesus provides us the life and words description of his Father’s love. It is unconditional, active and unceasing. It is the only type of relationship he offers or desires. The exact way Jesus is loved by his Father is how we are loved. 

A - These almost unbelievable words of Jesus are not being offered to substitute or replace the experiential reality of this love. He did not speak them to give the hundreds of millions who would follow him in the centuries to come a concept to accept and hold on to. This love, underscored and described by these words, is offered to the world (now 7.7 billion) as a relational, personal, ongoing dynamic. It is a love to be known not just known about; and like all loving relationships requires the wills of both parties. Relentlessly and inexhaustibly he asks us all to accept and remain in this love.  I admit that we do not control this reality but we do get to choose to participate. 

P - Lord who loves the world,

Thank you for giving yourself to us in the only terms which accurately describe your desire and our experience. You love us the way you are loved. Thank you for allowing, wanting and insisting that we experience your love. With you I want to love the way I am being loved. 

Refreshed and amazed by your love,

Steve

Bad Stewardship Remembered

S - "A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head. But when his followers saw this, they became angry and complained, “Why such a waste? We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. You will always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me. She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others." Matthew 26 TS

O - It wasn't the bankers who objected to this obvious waste but the followers. Their measure of assessment? The efficient use of money. Here, something beautiful, prophetically significant, relationally purposeful and unequivocally affirmed by Jesus is judged as a wasteful failure. Jesus' warning to the world remains in force … no one can serve God and money; even money for the poor. What "sound stewardship" identified as bad Jesus calls beautiful in the most personal way.   

A - The Kingdom of God is not primarily efficient … it can't be because it is a kingdom of love (God is love) and love is not primarily efficient. The world, secular and religious, thinks that the marker for the best use of money is making more money.  Jesus completely disagrees.  He instructs the followers very specifically on the purpose and faithful use of money. "I tell you to use wicked wealth to make friends for yourselves. Then when it is gone, you will be welcomed into an eternal home. … If you cannot be trusted with this wicked wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? … You cannot be the slave of two masters. You will love one and hate the other or be more loyal to one than to the other. You cannot serve God and money." Luke 16 At the end of it all, Jesus won't ask me how much money I ended up with but how many friends - BEAUTIFUL!

P - God to whom everything and everyone belongs,

Thank you for sending Jesus to clarify your person and purposes -- to make crystal clear your thinking, activities and desires.  I welcome this change of thinking about money's purpose and measure.  I admit that I cannot serve it and you - ever!  I choose you back.  

Looking to live (and give) beautifully,

Steve

Regarding Your Opinion

S - “On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have confidence in me, and you will have rivers of living water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.” … When the crowd heard Jesus say this, some of them said, “He must be the Prophet!” Others said, “He is the Christ!” Others even said, “Can the Christ come from Galilee? The Scriptures say that the Christ will come from the family of King David. Doesn’t this mean that he will be born in David’s hometown of Bethlehem?” The people started taking sides against each other because of Jesus. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.” John 7 TS

O - Jesus offers ALL the same invitation and the same guaranteed result. He's inviting the world to experience an unlimited refreshing and life-giving dynamic. The source is himself. He makes no religious or theological prequalification in his offer.  What's tragically curious is the response of the people.Instead of moving toward him for living water they take sides against each other based on their current religious, theological predispositions.  

A - Jesus' invitation to me and to all is not prequalified. The offer is made with a shout not a whisper.  It's not secret; it's very public. He's not asking me about my current theological or religious opinion on anything or anyone. He's not asking me who I think should be qualified to come.  He's inviting each one of us, individually, to himself; to rivers of living water flowing from deep inside.       

P - Jesus given to the world,

Yes to you … to your person, presence and way.  Yes to living water.  

Amazed and refreshed,

Steve 

More than One Surprise

S - "When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.” “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied. But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house.  Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob . But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain." Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.” Right then his servant was healed." Matthew 8 TS

O - Jesus’ response to this request was immediate and without qualification. He didn’t inquire into the officer’s religious practices, theological conclusions or political opinions. He did not ask about his life style preferences or off-duty activities. Neither did he attempt to lead him in a prayer or Scripture lesson. He did offer an unprecedented affirmation of the soldier’s faith followed by an observation which refutes all exclusive religious claims about participation in God’s kingdom. "Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven …"

A -  The faith which inspired surprise was relational not theological in its origin and expression. It was, as the Greek term describes, a confidence in and reliance upon the person of Jesus. Relational authenticity will always be more important than informational accuracy or religious practice.Surprise! What a beautiful dynamic and invitation for the whole world God so loves.

P -  Dear Jesus,

I accept this beautiful dynamic and invitation to relational authenticity with you; you who are completely reliable. Confident in your person and your ongoing personal invitation to all I will follow you.

Steve