God's kingdom is different

The confidence of a child...

NORSK 
Some of you will know the tittle “Dare to be different – be what you are” from my book on holiness (1). It should not be a surprise that we are different, because God's kingdom is different and we are citizens of that Kingdom.

The laws of God’s kingdom are completely different to the laws of this world. Take for example the world's growing demand for energy. To avoid destroying ourselves, the necessity to find renewable energy sources that do not influence the Earth’s ecosystem becomes increasingly urgent.

In the kingdom of God, all energy sources are renewable, and if we use them they will produce new and constructive energy. Love gives energy, and the more I love – the more love is generated.
Further, in God’s kingdom no one is greater than a child! 

“Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 

the disciples asked Jesus. 

I do not know what answer they were expecting, but I do not think anyone had foreseen what happened:

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:1-4

'You Got to Be a Baby' was one of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar to accompany my own singing. The song came to Norway with the Jesus Revolution. Although the song was biblical, it was perceived as a protest against the established church-hierarchy, in the same way Jesus was perceived in his time. In combination with the 'One Way - button' on our jackets, we sang it both indoors during the ‘Gospel-nights’ and out on the street when we evangelized.

It was true 48 years ago, and praise God how effective it was! It is just as applicable today as it was when the disciples learned it on their journey up to Jerusalem 2000 years ago – a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Therefore, a church without children will never be a real church.

God, help me to keep the confidence and enthusiasm of a child!
-------------------
(1) Link to the book

What do you do with the truth?

On the journey towards life, many people will discover that the good news about salvation in Jesus is true. This does not mean that they are prepared to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Because when you know the truth you will very likely start to ‘count the cost’.

I know this from my own experience. As far back as I can remember, I have believed in God, in Jesus and in what was written in the Bible, but I postponed the ‘surrender’ until the moment I could not resist the calling any longer. I was 14 and afraid of the cost of discipleship. However, I soon discovered that the gain by far exceeded the cost. Since then, I have observed others go through the same process.

The climatic crisis in the world today demands an analogue kind of decision. There seems to be scientific consensus that the crisis is a result of our unsustainable exploitation of the world’s resources. Further, I observe that an increasing number of people agree to this truth; however, the cost of reducing the benefits of the exploitation to save the planet, makes us postponing the dramatic decisions that need to be made.

So is there a cost of discipleship, and if so what is it?
Jesus is very clear that the call is to follow him. He calls us to himself, and he is very explicit:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24

I think this was the verse that kept me from surrendering; However, it took some time from the day of surrendering until I discovered what taking up my cross meant. The day I saw what it really means to die with Christ, and to raise with him to be a new creature in Him, became a moment of great importance. When I saw this, it made a fundamental difference for my understanding of what this is all about. With this in mind there is ‘no turning back’ – nor has it ever been a desire. 

Yes, I can be tired, disheartened and feel that I need new strength, but I know that this can only be found in Him – and nowhere else.

The question remains: What do you do with the truth?

The answer to this question is vital for your spiritual journey both before and after Jesus has become a part of your life, and He a part of yours.

‘Manna’ for today:

I will follow the truth to the life! (1)

----------------------------
(1) John 14:6

Through the gate of life

Old Orhei (photo: Magna)

It is interesting that the preposition ‘through’ is closely linked to all the ‘attributes of life’ as they are presented by Jesus in John’s gospel. The statement: ‘as He is, we are in this world’ (1) should likewise always be linked with ‘through’. If I want to live in this world as He is in this world, I realize that this means a 100% dependency on Him working ‘through’ me, and I ‘through’ Him. Any attempt to imitate Him will sooner or later be exposed as fake. He was in this world as a vulnerable human being. So are his followers today. He faced temptations (2), grieved his shortcomings (3) and even asked to be released from his mission if it could be avoided (4).

The gate as an attribute of the “I am” makes ‘through’ even more obvious:

“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”
John 10:7

Stop a while; ‘obvious’ is perhaps not the correct word if we look at the context. Jesus introduced the ‘gate-image’ in the very beginning of the chapter, and John writes “Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them” (v. 6).

I am not sure that it became clearer for them when Jesus introduced himself as the gate. What is ‘obvious’ is that a gate is something that you walk through. For the sheep it meant a passage to safety. And then Jesus confirms what his speech is all about:

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
John 10:9

'In' to Him, 'out' to live in this world – every day, every moment. If He is in this world as the gate, then opening the gate for people so that they can enter in to Him and find salvation, should also be an attribute of my life. A very simple picture, so easy to understand, however, so hard to live out. It was hard for Jesus too, but it brought life, and it still does.

‘Manna’ for today:

The gate of life is still open

-----------------------------------
(1) 1 John 4:17b
(2) Matthew 4:1-11
(3) Matthew 23:37-39
(4) Mark 14:36 

The light of life

NORSK
The second of Jesus’ “I am” statement, is “I am the Light of the world!” (1). Even though there is no problem associating the other attributes of Jesus with his followers, the attribute of being “Light of the world” Jesus explicitly also assign to his followers.

In his sermon on the mount, he said:

“You are the light of the world …. let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

These are well known verses, and it is interesting that Jesus connects the shining light with good deeds that will glorify God. This connection is also interesting in a holiness-perspective, and was one of the reasons why John Wesley made the statement: “No holiness, but social holiness” which I referred to in the blog: “Engaged for others” six months back.

In the narrative when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, we read that:

“he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”
Exodus 34:29b

David testified:

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
Psalm 34:5

After having prophesied the promise that God’s Spirit will not depart from you from this time on and forever, Isaiah continues with this exhortation:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”
Isaiah 60:1

This glory will lead to action, to good deeds. It is the light that drives the deeds, never the good deeds that drives the light. It is always first into him, who is the source of the attributes, and then out in the world to bring glory to the Father.

‘Manna’ for today:

Bring his light of life (1) into the world: Arise and shine!

-----------------------------
(1) “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

The attributes of life

If my mission is to bring Christ’s life to people, it is important that I know the attributes of his life. If I know what these are, this should also be the attributes of my life. Because, as he is, we are in this world (1).

Last week I focused on some of these attributes in one of Jesus’ seven “I am” statements in John’s gospel, and I included the “I am” as one of the attributes. “To be” is a vital part of our identity as human “beings” – and it is equally important when I speak about my identity in Jesus Christ. First of all, “I am” in him. It should not start anywhere else. The challenge is to keep this in mind all the time. Before Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, we read that:

Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him…
Matthew 10:1a

It is gives a clear signal that our calling is first and foremost ‘to Him’. Very often the ‘sending out’ – the commissioning, is seen and defined as ‘the’ calling; however, the sending out is a consequence of that calling, and the fact that through responding to it, we have become his body. It is something the love we experience in Christ ‘compels us’ to do (2).

The core of the call is always ‘to’ Christ and to be found ‘in’ Him. If we forget this, many of us will still go out and serve. The consequence of this can easily be a confusion of identity and we start seeking confirmation in the results rather than relaxing in the truth that we are in the world as He is in the world. And if I don’t know who I am and start to question my own identity in Christ, how can I then lead people to the great “I am”?

The remedy is simple:

Every day I come to him who calls me to himself, the one in whom “I live, move and have my being” (3).

‘Manna’ for today:

I am called to Him

--------------------
(1) 1 John 4:17b
(2) 2 Corinthians 5:14
(3) Acts 17:28

* Borrowed from: https://www.unsealed.org/2018/06/the-called-out-ones.html