I think that this will be Part 1 of a few cuz I am reading through the New Testament to get back to the basics -back to the raw, pure and (in the words of Mark Batterson) primal place in my faith where God is all that matters. Where we don’t get caught up in practicalities or rationalizations – its just God.
And its been a week…I’m on chapter 8 of matthew…and He’s already (and I don’t use this word lightly) revolutionizing how I see Jesus and my faith in Him.
Its amazing.
I guess in reading it with a purpose of trying to get back to the basics – I read it as if I am one of the disciples sitting on that mountain, having left everything behind - trusting that this man in front of me is the Messiah that I have been so desperately waiting for…and He’s telling me how it is. and its like I am literally just wanting to hear every word and am just amazed at what He is saying…and knowing my life needs to change radically if this is all true…
Don’t think of yourself as great – blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who are persecuted. Stay focused on eternity. YOU are the salt and light to the world. ??? All this darkness you’ve been surrounded by? You want it lit up? Well that’s you. you filled with Jesus. Don’t just not kill people – but don’t even hate them. Don’t just not commit adultery – but don’t even look on someone with lust. Give me a straight answer – don’t go back and forth. Love your ENEMIES.
And that’s just the beginning!!!
This was the very beginning. The first things the disciples learned from Him.
I like that Jesus warns them right away – focus on eternity. Because if you don’t…this is about to get harder than you’ll be able to handle. And then He says – if you’re going to follow me, follow me. but choose now and stick with it.
This IS the very basic foundation of being His follower.
LOVE Him! Believe He is God. Follow Him no matter what. keep your eyes on eternity. Love people! Do these things…and the rest will come. you WILL be changed. How can you not if you really believe all this is true?!?
Like I said – I am only on chapter 8 but my eyes are just being opened wider than I ever thought possible. And from this primal level – everything besides God all of a sudden seems so small. All the “stuff”. The fear of speaking out about Him or of taking huge steps of faith, the stress, the annoyances, the anger, the “impossible stuff”…God just outshines it ALL!
Because our focus was always meant to be on eternity. We were supposed to be looking at everything from this perspective. Its when we try to stand on all these other things and control what we see of God that our perspectives get all skewed.
so don’t get caught up in the “stuff”.
so lets go back to the basics and sort through what is straight from God and what we've just sort of adopted along the way.
Let go of what we think and just take in some straight-up Jesus. :)
And like I said-mostly likely to be continued…
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
-Matthew 5:6
-ALIVE
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