Busy or Near?

S -"As John grew up, God’s Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel. … At that time [i.e. years later] God spoke to Zechariah’s son John, who was living in the desert. So, John went along the Jordan Valley, telling the people, “Change your thinking and be submerged! Then your sins will be forgiven.” Luke 2 & 3 TS

O -It's quite striking that with all the spiritual dynamics surrounding John the Baptist's birth and assignment given by heaven he would not start any activity until he was "sent" by God. Like the One he would precede and prepare the way for, John did not work for God but with him.  In this work, he would stand in direct opposition to the thinking and religious practice of the day. His primary "audience" would not think that being submerged in water was something they would need to do. This act was reserved for Gentiles who were converting to Judaism.  But thinking must change and heaven's invitation is never to a particular religious group. John was calling all people to change their thinking about everything.  Being submerged was not about converting to a religion but committing to a person … the One who would come after John and would submerge in the Holy Spirit and fire. 

A -The pressure to do something rather than wait is tremendous in the world we live in.  Earth (secular and religious) wants movement, perceived progress or growth and it always wants it now. Heaven is already working everything for good without us and has its own timetable. The point of our activities is much less about what one is doing and way more about whom one is working with.  Waiting is work … it's challenging to one's mind and cultural predispositions.  But then, its difficulty only confirms John's words and those which Jesus would also say. Change your thinking, the Kingdom is near and not far away.  Earth wants me busy, heaven want me near. Jesus tells us "Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me." (John 15 TS) I hear him say: Rather than submerging YOURSELF in activities let me submerge you in the Holy Spirit … follow me; work with me not for me; you will be very fruitful.

P -Lord who is the vine,

I admit my ongoing and never-ending need of transformed thinking … about everything.  I will do the work of waiting and am grateful to be near rather than just busy.  I will work with you not for you … unto everything you already have in mind to do.  Thank you for loving us first and most; and for refusing to change your mind. I love you back!

Ready for a submerging in the Holy Spirit,

Steve 

A Better Obedience?

S - "Don’t suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. … You must obey God’s commands better than the Religious Experts and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don’t, I promise you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. … Treat others as you want them to treat you is this what the Law and the Prophets are all about. … Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. … When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were astonished at his teaching He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses." Matthew 5;6;7 TS

O - What is the "better obedience" Jesus is requiring of his hearers?  Since not a period or comma will disappear and the Religious Experts were all about the periods and commas, what is his point? I was taught his point is to show how impossible it is to fulfill the law and that no one can do it -- no one except Jesus. This of course is true but what if it's not his point? What if the better obedience has nothing to do with being convinced of an impossibility and has everything to do with the ever-present possibility of loving? The Religious Experts worked the periods and commas without love; without treating others as they would want to be treated.  According Jesus, there are two Scriptures upon which ALL OTHERS depend.  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind this is the greatest and most important commandment.  The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as your equal.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew22) If this weren't enough to clarify his intent of better obedience, his only new commandment does: "But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my followers." (John 13)

A - It’s amazing how consistently love is missed in religious and theological conclusions. It’s not denied it’s more like ignored or viewed as less consequential to the point. Jesus comes to clarify the person and purposes of God and he makes it clear love is the point! In fact, without love everything done or said becomes noise and nothing … everything (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). God is love. Love is the reason Jesus came; the point upon which all other points depend; it’s the only reality which identifies who his followers actually are. I will pursue/embrace Jesus’ invitation to better obedience.

P - God of heaven and earth,

I accept the purpose heaven has assigned to my life (and to all humans): to love You with my all and my neighbor as myself, my equal. I will live out loud Jesus’ better obedience. I will live, love and pray in him and in his name.

Steve

Cause or Person?

S - "As he traveled from place to place, he encouraged the followers with many messages. Finally, he went to Greece and stayed there for three months." Acts 20

O -  This is the description of Paul's "ministry life" following his departure from Ephesus after the riot.  It covers some months, clearly more than three in only two sentences.  There's no report on numbers "saved" or "healed" or "in attendance".  No important persons are named nor are venues mentioned which would add credibility to "the ministry" or justification for the travel.  All that is said is that "he encouraged the followers".  Curious in light of the way "ministry" seems to be done today.  The religious world wants to call people to a cause and heaven only calls people to a person.  That person leads and makes assignments but the assignments are never the point. He is! The description above is disastrous if one is serving and building a cause. It is beautifully potent if one is following a person.  

A - It's a good thing Paul wasn't trying to fund raise.  It’s a good thing he wasn't hired by a religious organization or missionary enterprise.  Fortunately, he was doing what he'd done since that first encounter with Jesus (Acts 9).  He was following.  The very thing he asked all others to pursue in any reference to his own life. "Follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Jesus never worked for his Father only with him.  He never called one person to a cause, only to himself.  He's never asked anyone to work for him, only with him. He doesn't need or want my help, only my cooperation.  With him, there's no "justification" or "credibility" to be gained or maintained. Only following, abiding and loving. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever." 

P - God and Father of Jesus and us all,

Thank you for sending Jesus to clarify both your person and your purposes.  Thank you for wanting us all and giving us all the same invitation through and in him.  I am very grateful to be working with and not for.  I am hoping that you will make my life an encouragement to all according to the irrepressible life of Jesus.

Living in hope due to your unfailing love,

Steve  

Exactly!

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 - The Arts and Sciences want us to start at Genesis and read through Revelation to gain proper understanding about God. Heaven wants us to start and stick with Jesus. He is the good news for all people. Jesus, not Moses (or anyone else), shows us what God is like. Jesus affirms this, “… no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” No one else is capable (“truly God”) or qualified (“closest to the Father”) — No one!

A - Earth is always about information and heaven is always about relationships. Jesus’ only definition of eternal life makes the point unmistakably clear. “This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent.” Relationship will lead to information but not necessarily the other way around. God so loved the world he sent a person not a book, plan or concept. Accurate information is not a bad thing it just can’t guarantee a relationship. Eternal life isn’t knowing about someone its knowing them. Everywhere Jesus went there was a group of people who always had the correct information about him. It was demons and the people they possessed. To people with right information but no authentic relationship he always said the same thing, “Be quiet.” Heaven’s point is not that we would know about God or Jesus but that we would actually be in a relationship with them. If my considerations of what God is like isn’t identical to Jesus something is off regardless of the source, Moses and all others included.

P - God of heaven and earth,

Thank you for sending Jesus to make your person and purposes clear. Thank you for wanting all people to live in deep and abiding relationship with you and with each other. I admit Jesus makes this both possible and believable. I will start and stick with him … unto one blessing after another and the life that is really life.

Grateful to be in Jesus in you,

Steve