Someone's Fool

S - “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. … Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:16-22, 32-37 NIV

O - Jesus' teaching on the practical necessities of life on earth (what one eats, wears and stores up) is given immediately following the story of the rich fool.  Both the story and the teaching rotate around the idea of no worry about provision for today or in the future.  The fool has no worry because of what he currently has and Jesus calls his followers to no worry because of whose they are (their heavenly Father loves them and will take care of them).  The rich guy is considered smart by the world and a fool by God. Those who believe Jesus about earth and daily bread necessities are considered wise by God and fools by the world. … “‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.’ The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” Luke 16:13-15

A - The world (secular and religious) taught me that a good steward is very concerned (code word for worried) about daily bread issues. Worry is a virtue in earth's understanding of stewardship and motherhood (e.g. worry is one of the "signs" of a mother's love).  Jesus instructs me (and all who follow him) to NOT worry.  When it comes to what we eat, wear and store up he directly tells us to not run after it and to not take it (legally).  He wants me/us to trust, follow and let it be added.  The pagans worry, run after it and take it. The stewardship I was taught by religious leaders is considered wise by the world … but directly refutes and refuses the instructions of Jesus.  They can't both be right, both be wise.  I choose Jesus!  “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.’” 1Corinthians 3:18-20

P - God of all,

Thank you for sending Jesus to clarify both your person and your purpose.  I gratefully accept his teaching on all matters and am thankful that you call us to live on earth with you as our Father; not a distant, uninterested deity.  I accept my part in trusting, following and receiving rather than worrying, running and taking.  I will believe Jesus about earth and not just about heaven (John 3:11-12).

Living in Jesus and his name,

Steve 

Heaven's Proof Positive

S - “The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; … The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.” John 2:13-15, 18-22 NASB

O - Jesus was asked to prove he had the authority to do what he was doing; and what he was doing was polar opposite to the culture and prevailing belief structure of his day.  His answer?  Resurrection.  Resurrection is the proof of Jesus' identity and actions.  According to the Scriptures it confirms that Jesus is God's son, the Christ, the Judge, that he will return and that our sins are forgiven (“and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17 NASB). In fact, the resurrection is the proof that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that the Father loves him (cf. John 10:11-18). The context of Kingdom living here and hereafter (the reality which engages all the rest) is the resurrection of Jesus not the crucifixion.

A - The assignment heaven gave the Apostles was to be witnesses of Jesus' resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). The crucifixion is essential and beyond imagination but is not the point of the person, life and teaching of Jesus.  The resurrection was the focus and emphasis and was such for his followers and of all their speaking as recorded in Acts. Paul will say to the believers in Corinth (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 19 NASB): “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. … namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them …”  Since resurrection is heaven's emphasis concerning the person and activity of Jesus, shouldn't it be earth's and mine?

P - God of heaven and earth and all there is,

Thank you sending Jesus to clarify both your person and purposes.  It is a wonderful reality to experience your love and the power of resurrection life, spirit life, here on earth.  I am grateful that you are no longer counting sins and are calling all people to come near in Jesus.  I will join his followers in focused living, speaking, thinking and acting according to his resurrection and irrepressible life. You love the world and I thank you for letting me love you back.

Living in Jesus and his indestructible life,

Steve

Already Advantaged - so Please Check Your to do List

S - “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:7-11 ESV

O - The advantage of the followers of Jesus will not be the Scriptures, the Apostles or the historic connection with Abraham, Moses and the Prophets.  The Helper, the one who will awesomely advantage all who love Jesus, will more than make up for his physical absence in a way prescribed by heaven.  A major component of this advantage will be the work this Helper will do.  His work will encompass the entire world and will engage in an activity reserved exclusively for him.  His work? To convict (ἐλέγχω - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.) and to do so with a very specific focus.  The advantage heaven sends to the followers will engage the world in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment.  The problem comes here … when religious thinking and human reasoning try to help heaven with this endeavor. Only one sin is listed; the failure to believe in the person of Jesus.  The righteousness he will convict of is not about the actions of others on earth but of Jesus' relationship with the Father.  Judgment is not focused on any humans but singularly on the fallen Lucifer. This is where the advantage begins each day. Conclusion? Heaven's activity and work list on earth is very different from earth's (secular and religious) activity and work list.

A - Heaven doesn't want my help.  It wants my cooperation.  It wants me to admit, accept and trust the Helper sent to engage the world.  Jesus wants me to follow him and to rely on the work he, his Father and the Helper are doing … whether I currently see it or not.  The Spirit, like the Father and Jesus, does not want my assistance in bringing conviction to others or in building lists of concerns and sins. They do want me to welcome this work, this conviction, in my own life and to live it out loud day by day.  Along the way I'll get invited into places, people and situations where they'll let me be a part of what they are doing.  Currently, heaven is engaging in 7.2 (on the way to 7.3) billion projects on planet earth and I am grateful to be one of them.     

P - Lord God of heaven and earth,

Thank you for the advantage, the work, the focus and the ongoing presence of your person in us and with us … unto everything you already have in mind to do. I want to cooperate and not help.  I welcome and embrace the Helper you send and refuse to alter his list of to dos. I'll follow, be your worksite and agree to whatever you'd like me to do and not to do. Beautiful!

Glad to be living and thinking in Jesus and in his name,

Steve