Monday, January 23, 2012

Notes to the Lord:The Lessons Continue


Mark 1
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Lord Jesus--The call to follow you was a call to become a student of the master. It was your job to teach, Simon, Andrew, James and John's job to learn.  It isn't for the next meal or to pay the rent that they would be fishing for men, but rather for your kingdom. Interesting that they did not inquire about the benefits package or the retirement program.  They heard your call and followed.  They wanted to know more about you.  Relationship called them and kept them following you.

So the call for me today is much the same.  I continue to learn and you continue to teach.  I am thinking that because of the gift of the Holy Spirit that process is really accelerated over what the disciples experienced.  I have always thought that I would have liked to have been a part of that group.  But reality is that their learning curve was the result of their context.  My learning curve is dependent on my context, Lord continue to teach and to lead on the road to your Kingdom come.

Remind me to today Lord Jesus, as I do normal things that you are still teaching.  The process is not over, I still am the student.  Help my "yes" to you is fully awake.

Our “Yes” to God is, in the words of theologian Dietrich von Hildebrand, “the primal word” and “cannot be spoken too clearly, too wakefully, too explicitly.”
Mcknight, Scot (2009-10-01). Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (p. 69). Paraclete Press. Kindle Edition.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Notes to the Lord-A Short Jesus Sermon


Mark 1


14-15 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”

Lord Jesus-I make it too complicated.  The message is simple. You have come to the world...you have come into my world and everything is changed.  The piece that I continue to miss is that your kingdom has already come.  This sermon on the side of the sea was preached in the present tense...not future.

So what does that mean...if your kingdom is already come?

It means that you are in charge.  You call me to better listening and fewer moments of Attention Deficient Disorder of the soul. You call me to forgiveness and grace even when it hurts.You call me to risk and vulnerability in the middle of a world that respects only power and control.  You call me to servant leadership in a world that usually sees servants as doormats to be used to keep the house clean.

Lord Jesus in the day that has already begun, let your kingdom grow in me as I work and wait for your return.

Peterson, Eugene H. (2006-06-15). The Message Remix 2.0: The Bible In contemporary Language (p. 1792). NavPress. Kindle Edition.