Called Out

So, I'm beginning to wonder if only the verses that I normally have read over are going to stand out to me. I suppose it makes sense that they would. I've read the book of John many times, but for whatever reason I feel like I have a different set of lenses this time.

Two related sections of John 11 stood out to me.

Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" -John 11:7-8

Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." -John 11:16

In the midst of all the turmoil, of His life, Jesus has upset enough folks by threatening the status of power over people that they have tried to sieze him and have nearly stoned him to death. As this interaction is taking place, Jesus and his disciples are out of the immediate line of fire.

And here's Jesus, ready to head back into the center of the chaos.

That doesn't surprise me so much, I guess. After all, he's Jesus. I've come to expect bold, brave, and daring things from him.

But, the words of Thomas . . . those mess with me.

Thomas (and we don't see that any of the 12 argued with him) was willing to die, if that's what it meant to follow Jesus. For Thomas, it wasn't about safety or comfort. It was about obediently following his Master, the Messiah.

And I have to wonder, am I willing to follow Jesus to my own death? In my self-assured moments, I am apt to claim that this is the road that I'm willing to go down. But, I have to admit, I think it's a road that I secretly hope that I don't have to go down.

And I guess that makes sense, we are talking about living after all. But, I think death is as much of a metaphor as it is a reality. For instance, am I willing to follow Jesus in such a way that:

• my financial security is at the risk of death?
• my popularity and social status is at the risk of death?
• my self-centered dreams and ambitions are at the risk of death?
• my pride and carefully constructed public facade is at the risk of death?

I want to be a man that holds nothing back from Jesus . . . even if it means walking toward some type of death. I have a feeling I know which thing in my life He's leading me to place at the risk of death. (Which I will share some other day.)

What about you? What thing in your life might Jesus be leading you to place at the risk of death?

Continuing on in the journey. I know this sounds silly, but giving up soda, sweets, dessert, and the like has been a bit harder than I thought it would be. But, it's good. I'm glad for it. Let's just say I'm reminded often of God's presence and good work in my life.

I have to tell you, the more days I use the Amplified Bible for my personal study, the more I like it. For the longest time, I only read it as a reference or study source. But, I am very much enjoying the new ways that I am seeing the Scriptures as I read from it. If you want to know more about the Amplifed Bible, you can go here or here.

As I was reading John 5 this morning in the Amplified Bible (I have been reading multiple translations each day), verses 38-39 really stood out to me:

And you have not His word (His thought) living in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on Him Whom He has sent. [That is why you do not keep His message living in you, because you do not believe in the Messenger Whom He has sent.]

You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!

I think there are a lot of us (myself included) who miss out on the life-giving nature of our Heavenly Father because we are too caught up in the intellectual pursuit of knowledge. I really like to learn new things. Consequently, I tend to esteem people and situations that teach me new things. And this, in and of itself, isn't bad. But, if I ever depend on the words (even the words of the Bible) instead of God (who gave them to us), I am missing out on present day manifestation of eternal life in me.

Instead, God wants me to live a life of belief, trust, reliance, and obedience to Him. And when I do that, those words become words of life!

What do you think? Am I off base on this one?

I would love to hear what you have to say.

I hope you're being challenged and stretched as much in this journey as I am. Before I share my thoughts on John 4. I have to point you to my friend, Mary's post on what she's going to be trying as a part of this 21 Day journey. Click here to read about it. She inspires me.

Anyone else want to try her challenge? I'm considering it.

On to John 4 . . .

I had one clear thought stand out today, and it came from verses 13-19.

Jesus offers living water, water that will mean that she will never thirst again. And, strangely enough, he goes straight to her greatest thirst in life.

This woman comes to the well at noon, a time when nobody comes to the well likely due to the heat of the midday sun. Fetching water from the well and taking it home is tough work. But, she likely does this avoid the mumbled comments, sideways glances, and disapproval of others. If she went at a time when nobody else was there, she wouldn't have to be rejected . . . like she has been so many times before.

But, there's Jesus. And he asks her for a drink. Something that you wouldn't do unless you actually found that person valuable in some way. How long has it been since someone found her valuable?

Jesus then offers her living water, in other words: life.

When she asks how to get life, how does Jesus respond? He goes to her greatest place of shame. Go ahead, read it for yourself. How do YOU think she felt?

Here's my revelation this morning: God wants to give me life. And the path to that abundant, overflowing, never-ending life goes through my greatest shame.

The path to life travels directly through my lingering sense of insufficiency. The path to life travels directly through my lame attempts to be the husband and father that my wife and son deserve. The path to life travels directly through my dark, inner secrets.

What about you? Where is the path of life going to travel in your life?

I'm convinced that I will never experience the reality of the "no regrets" life that God has for me until I am willing to allow him to shine His light into the darkest corners of my life and expose the lies for what they are.

What do you think? Share your thoughts . . .

So, the 21 Day journey continues . . .

One of the pieces of this journey is to fast from something, and I wanted to let you know what I've chosen: sweets. No candy, dessert, or soda for three weeks.

Normally this wouldn't be a big deal for me. I'm more of a salty guy than a sweet guy. But, over the past 4-6 weeks, I've noticed that I've been consistently craving sweet snacks. So, I thought this might be the perfect thing for me to give up to be consistently reminded of the presence of God in my life, and His desire to give me a life of "no regrets".

I'm only a couple of days into this, I don't know that I've seen more tempting or delicious desserts than I have over the past couple of days. My house has open bags of Halloween candy, and the lunch I was at yesterday was offering delicious looking desserts for FREE!!! (Those of you that know me know how much I love free stuff!) But, I'm committed to this deal, and I'm looking forward to all that God has to show me.

Now for my thoughts on John 3 . . .

Above all else there is one portion that stood out to me today: verse 3. "No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again."

I don't know about you, but I am constantly asking God to show me what He is up to in this world. I want to see.

I constantly ask questions like:

• God, what are you up to?
• God, who do you want me to talk to?
• God, what do you want me to do?
• God, will you show me your way?

I want to see.

How about you? Are you consistently asking to see?

I believe with all of my heart that God sees the world at a deeper and more meaningful level than I could ever hope to attain. So, I regularly beg Him to show me what I don't see.

This morning, God reminded me that the only way I will see the Kingdom (His work and ways in the world) is for me to continue to live life with a new set of lenses.

The truth is that we all see the world through a set of lenses. And these lenses are colored and tinted by a ton of different factors: self-image, successes, failures, pain, shame, etc.

My lens is often tinted by a sense of insufficiency and inadequacy. Consequently, I work harder. I promise bigger. I hide more.

But the truth is this: I am the child of God.

Where I am weak, He is strong. In fact, in 1 Cor. 12:9, God's Word says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

The new lens that allows me to see His Kingdom is a lens of grace. After all, Jesus didn't come to condemn me, but to save me from the broken lenses through which I see the world.

How about you? What lenses do you see the world through?

Day 2 of the 21 Day journey is here. As promised, I spent some time in John 2 this morning, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts. As always, I'd love to hear some of your thoughts as well. If you want to find out more about the 21 Day journey, go here, here, or here.

Before I begin, I just have to make a couple of observations:

1. Does the interaction between Jesus and his mother (v.1-5) make anyone else smile?
   Here's Jesus, enjoying the wedding, and his mom comes along and gets him involved. He lovingly tells her that it's not his time yet. So, in classic motherly fashion, she turns to the servant and says, "Do whatever he tells you."
   
   There wasn't even a discussion!!! She knew that her son would just do what she said. Love it.
2. After Jesus turns the water into wine (which apparently was very good wine), how many wedding invitations do you think he received? I mean . . . come on. That's a pretty handy dude to have on hand for the reception when your beverage options are likely either water or wine.

Alright, on to more "serious" reflections . . .

As I read today, there is one word that stood out to me: believe.

We're only two chapters in, and already we've seen that concept mentioned on 5 different occasions. I think John is trying to help us clue in on something.

The concept and thought process behind this word is more than just intellectual assent. It's more than just acknowledging with our minds that this or that is true. The idea of believe when we read it in the book of John is that of "adhering to, trusting in, relying on" Jesus. So, when it says in v.11 that his disciples believed in Jesus, it's saying that they trusted in Jesus. They adhered to His teaching. They were relying on Him.

The word shows up again in v. 23, but this time the context is believing in His name. Here's what I wrote in my journal this morning as I reflected on that statement:

"belived in His name"

That phrase still stands out to me, Lord. Your name captures the sum of who you are. Love. Truth. Almighty God. Wonderful Counselor. Prince of Peace. Lord of Lords. King of Kings. Everlasting God. Waymaker. Guide. Provider. Protector. Healer. Immanuel. Savior. Rock.

There are so many more names for You that describe who you are. In what ways do I fail to believe?

The reality that truly believing means to "adhere to, trust in, and rely on" is not lost on me. We have made believing such an intellectual exercise. When in reality believing is a matter of where we put our trust and confidence. What am I willing to stake my life on?

As for me and my house, we will serve, follow, and trust in teh Lord of Hosts. For His Kingdom never ends. His Kingdom will reign forever. His Kingdom will bring light to the world. Some may trust in horses, some may trust in chariots, but we will trust in the name of the Lord.

God, where do I lack trust? Where am I holding out?

How about you? Where are you holding out trust in God?