FYI: Clarifying Questions Tend to Pop our Ignorance Bubbles

Clarifying questions are good because they help us better understand a situation or expectation. Sometimes, however, they give information we wish we could unlearn or makes us regret asking altogether. Whenever that happens to me, I think, “Ok, ignorance bubble popped. What now?”

Whether the former info was presented as false or perceived falsely doesn’t matter. It’s what you do with your paradigm moving forward that’s key.

There was an expert in religious law who asks Jesus clarifying questions. He wants to know how to inherit eternal life.

Knowing this guy’s an expert, Jesus asks HIM what the Law says about it-how does HE read it?

The man replies, “Love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind & strength & love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus is like, “Great! Do THAT & you’ll live!”

The man wants to justify his actions, so clarifies by asking, “Remind me again, who’s my neighbor?’

Jesus then does what He also does best & tells a story. It’s a good one, kinda like the Hatfields & McCoys. A Jew is beat & left for dead. A priest happens to walk down the road, sees the Injured Jew & moves to the other side. A Temple assistant does the same! But then, “a despised Samaritan”comes along & cares for the man at his own expense!

Jesus ends the story with His own question - now who’s the neighbor?

The man replied, “The one who showed mercy”, & Jesus closes the conversation with this:

“Yes. Now go & do the same.”

Our world is wildly divisive right now. It feels like a Hatfield & McCoy kinda division has fallen over us.

Y’all, it’s easy to care for people we care about, but the standard is SO much higher when we follow Jesus! Ultimately HE is the key to eternal life, & it’s only THROUGH His residing Presence that we CAN love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind & strength & then love others with His love!

Father, this story is so familiar that it’s easy to dismiss it as yada, yada, yada, but Your Word is sharper than a double-edged sword. Cut to the heart of our motives & align them with yours.

Pop our ignorance bubbles & make us weapons of reconciliation! Shift our personal paradigm to align with Yours SO THAT we CAN, “Now, go and do the same!”

#OneYearBible

April 3rd One Year Bible Readings

DEUTERONOMY 23:1-25:19

LUKE 10:13-37

PSALM 75:1-10

PROVERBS 12:12-14

What Kind of Fan are You? Would You be Willing to Wear Tassels?

When we first moved to Georgia, I was blown away by the college football fans. A day wouldn’t pass without seeing some kinda UGA paraphernalia or reference to roll tide 😂I was suddenly submerged into a subculture of clothes, caps & flags oh my! The zeal was real & I felt like I landed on another planet!

We’d moved from the Minnesota tundra & were pretty big Vikings fans, but I can’t say anyone knew unless we said something.

All of that 👆🏽surfaced from a little verse in Deuteronomy. It’s sandwiched in-between a bunch of (what feels like random) rules & says this:

“You must put four tassels on the hem of the cloak with which you cover yourself—on the front, back, and sides.”

Why tassels with a conspicuous thread of deep blue? And why on all four sides?

From a practicality standpoint, it seems like they’d be kind of annoying, getting in the way when you walk…ANNNND (I suddenly thought) that’s probably the whole point!

I love that the providence of God attends to the smallest details…even blue fringes😉

This symbolic precept carries a two-fold purpose. The little fringes on the front, side & back of their outer garment serve as a reminder & accountability.

As they walk along and kick the fringe on the front of their robe, every step gives cause for the commands of God to rise in remembrance.

And as they pass the onlookers in their life, the Side & rear tassels become a public proclamation of who they are, Whose they are & what they believe.

It got me to thinking…would I be willing to wear tassels? Talk about accountability! 😳

We have no problem proclaiming our allegiance to our alma matter with caps, clothes & chants, but even on its best day, it does nothing to impact our eternal future.

Do people only know we are Jesus fans because of what we say or by what we do?

I want to be known as a Jesus fan. I want my entire life to become a blue-tied tassel that proclaims the extraordinary goodness of God!

Father, may our lives burn with zeal for You alone! Let the lions share of our time, attention & treasures be spent in fanaticism of following you! We needn’t say a word of what we believe when our lives are like fringes that proclaim Your goodness & grace! 

#OneYearBible

April 2nd One Year Bible Readings

DEUTERONOMY 21:1-22:30

LUKE 9:51-10:12

PSALM 74:1-23

PROVERBS 12:11

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail. What’s Your Exodus Plan?

Did you know that the author of Exodus, the man who led the exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, spoke to Jesus about HIS exodus?

I didn’t make the connection until this morning. Jesus is on a mountain top to pray when suddenly before Him appear Moses & Elijah! 👉🏽The Lawmaker & The Prophet!

Why  them, I wondered? Of ALL the people God could’ve allowed to break the bounds of death to return to earth, why these two?

Jesus came with one resolute aim in mind…not just to minister, heal, preach & teach. They were all means to an end: to become the ransom for all, past present & future!

These men already made their exodus from earth & now stood with Jesus to talk about His. The prophet speaks to the Fulfillment of ALL prophecies & the deliverer of Israel speaks to the Deliverer of ALL people about, “His exodus from this world”!!!

The certainty of the cross had always stood before Jesus, but His death day is distinctly drawing near. In this mountaintop moment with Moses & Elijah, the Father once again speaks favor over His Son, “This is my Som, my Chosen One. Listen to Him.”

I can picture it like a giant movie screen & it makes me weep…the favor of the Father, spoken so boldly for all to hear, is priceless. The Son of God, as the Son of Man, is facing the most brutal kind of death he described in detail to his disciples just 8 days before.

& yet, here, now, the Father surrounds His Son with The Lawgiver & the Prophet as a reminder & encouragement that His coming death & resurrection are about to end that law & fulfill prophecy!

Jesus came for one purpose alone: to fulfill the Law & the prophets SO THAT He might become the ransom for all who believe!

There is no other religion on God’s green earth that promises eternal life for “free”! It costs us nothing, but cost Jesus everything!

We all have a day of exodus distinctly drawing near. Do you know where you’re destined? Because of the cross you CAN! Jesus died so you might live eternally with Him. Will you accept His gift & follow him as Lord? You’ve got nothing to lose but a life without divine guidance & an eternal death apart from God & all things good. Try Him & see that He is oh-so-good!

#OneYearBible

April 1st One Year Bible Readings

DEUTERONOMY 18:1-20:20

LUKE 9:28-50

PSALM 73:1-28

PROVERBS 12:10