On the way...by the way

Matthew 27 this a.m.

The Journey of Christ...on His way, toward becoming my sin. Toward rejection. Toward the will of the Father.Toward the embracing of difficulty most high....of the woundedness of a couple followers and a governor. Wounded on the inside, conflicted and confused. Which way is "right" and what move is next.

Judas Iscariot.

Simon Peter.

Pilate.

...others? Perhaps you and me. Maybe we have an understanding of what it looks like to doubt God..to question the clarity of a big decision...to walk in the footsteps of a betrayer, and to turn away from what we know is good and true. I can relate, for sure. It hurts and as I read this account of the journey of Jesus, His brute love and trust in the Father and His word....I can't help but wonder:  When have I been like Judas? When have I renounced Jesus as did Peter? When have I gone against my gut...my wife..and made a move/decision with such poor influences...like Pilate?

Jesus was on His way, by the way...on His way to becoming Death - so I would not have to look upon it! He was exchanging guilt, messes, death itself..and truthfully so much more (maybe in next few days there will be more on this..) in order that Life would be given.

Life. Life to the fullest. Full of the righteousness of God. I pray that the Lord speaks to my heart as I re-live this journey to the cross in the next few days in my times in scripture. For now, I am hung up on betrayal...on washing hands clean..guilt, and the joining in of the crowd!

The crowd always seems to join in, don't they? Where are you..in this?

Are you in the crowd? What's your role?

Jesus, teach me your ways...I hope I lean toward Peter's experience....with guilt came restoration...soon, it can't come soon enough.

Lord restore me. I am grateful. I need you, Jesus.

On my way, too, by the way.

My Journey in Christ.

Blessings,

-ao

My thoughts from this a.m. - a tweet

 Tweet from TweetCaster 

-Matthew 26:45-75

He is getting at something: a ‘listening.

 

He is getting at something, Jesus is. He is getting at my life…my inner life. My decisions. The choices I make on a daily basis. He is getting at my lifestyle – they way I choose to walk around this Earth and interact and show myself or what  I truly believe in….what, really, is the Lord of my life. I heard recently if you turn a man upside down, what he really puts his confidence and trust and lifestyle rhythms in – that will be what falls out of the man’s pockets. So, the quote said, put your confidence in the hope of Jesus so that His hope is what comes out when your life turns upside down.

Hope. In Jesus. Life upside down. Something about that seems a bit….accurate theology, no? I think so. Life upside down – forcing me to really see what I trust in – the Lord gaining my attention – He is fond of you and me so He will do whatever it takes, perhaps, to help us to recognize love. I am reading in the book and gospel of Matthew in my time alone w/Jesus. I am in chapter 24. Here is some of where I have been:

 

25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away[K]and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. No One Knows That Day and Hour 36“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son but the Father only. 37For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49and begins to beat his fellow servants[N]and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

-Matthew 23:25-28; 24:3-14;32-51 ESV

 

One theme seems to prevail, here. At first glance it probably feels a bit harsh to read this section of scripture, especially to one who may or may not be a skeptic or doubter of God’s reality and truth and live. But, if in a rhythm with the Lord in regular readings and gaining the story in the midst of the words – that these are sayings that really did happen, accounts that really are historically true and the words were spoken from (so many of them) the Son of God….it begins to take a different shape. Not such a nasty and griping and “tisk-tisk” sort of God in the sky, but one whom went through much to communicate is love, divinity and care for you and me.

Jesus is getting at something: obedience. I believe there is a root word in Latin (sounds really smart, huh?) for ‘obedience’ and it is the word “audire’” also written as ob – oedire. Both words carry this meaning: to listen. What is Jesus Christ telling us in these words of ‘let no one lead (us) astray’ and to ‘watch for the Lord…’ as we are careful for how we are living in the in-between of now and the Great Rescue??? I believe He is telling me to “listen” – to obey his commands and follow His Word – be obedient to the Lord. When I hear “be obedient” or “obey and follow commands” – it does NOT appeal to me. However, when I understand that our word comes after knowing the definition of obedience….that it is ‘a listening (Thomas a’ Kempis said, “my life is a’ listening and His is a’ speaking”) to the Lord’s guidance, then I am more apt to actually being obedience because I feel like the Bible can come alive and is not a list of rules but a guide to connectedness to God and a glimpse into the Kingdom of Heaven.

A glimpse into Heaven? Listening to God? Connected to the Son of Man?

Sounds wild…doesn’t it?? Sounds like a life I want to live and one I want my family to be a part of, too. It’s a life that God desires you and me to dig into.

Worth consideration.

Blessings,

-ao

Which are you...

Matthew 21:28-32 ESV

"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him."

Where do I stand, here? Do I believe the scriptures? Do I believe that God has given me the opportunity to be in communion with Him? That He has shown me His way...and which route has been the road I have taken.

The Lord is up to something....which have you seen? Which son are you? The worker who delayed, only to keep his word and honor the father? Or the son who said he would uphold the father's request and didn't?

One put his faith into practice. The other pretended only to cover up his own desires..ultimately that were not life giving.

Is my life 'a choosing of the path of God, as wretched as I am....is my life living in a lie....this is worth yours and my consideration.

May we consider these words of Christ, today. I'm in.

Blessings,

-ao

A faith secured...

Matthew 21:18-22 ESV

"In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

What does it mean to pray with expectation? Is it something you practice? What if, in prayer, I asked God, in faith....not doubting, that being in communion with Him and fully trusting in His nature...that God will do great things. He "will move" and my faith and prayer answered. What if I really believed that God would show up and do great things...answering prayer, of all things.

Is this a confessional mixed with a lottery ticket booth....not hardly. So, why should we treat our Lord as such?! What was the message in these verses for the disciples? What did Jesus have in mind for them? Was it to ask whatever they wanted? Was it to display the authority of God..that Jesus was one with God? Was it a message within a moment of authentic fleshly struggle per say...hunger. Jesus was hungry and this fig tree had bore no fruit...none. Jesus ended its future potential for any further fruit. He had previously come from the temple in anger at how man had robbed the purposes of God's temple for his own monetary gain,disgracing the name of Yahweh.

So, what is the message? Perhaps the same message is for you and me. Perhaps an offer of connection and intimacy with the Father.

Connection. Intimacy. Trust. Faith. True-hope in God. Prayer. Results from the Lord. A deeper trust.

Sounds like something I desire.

I'm in.

What about you? Take a second look and lets consider the infinite love of God, chasing our hearts, to further communicate love and trust. Divine security.

'Tis true. 'Tis true, indeed.

Blessings,

-ao