Jan 23, 2024
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I think of the Jesus who appeared to his disciples and said that they have a mission not to create an inwardly focused community and to complain about the world but rather to go out and with the power of the Spirit live missional lives, bringing the light of Jesus to others (Acts 1:8).
Dan Kimball "They Love Jesus but Not the Church"
Today, for the first time, I see what Jesus meant by the kingdom of God. I see that it's about changing this world, not just escaping it and retreating into our churches. If Jesus' message of the kingdom of God is true, then everything must change. Everything must change.
Brian D. McLaren 'Everything Must Change.'
faith as a mustard seed
He replied, “Because you have so little faith.
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
-Matthew 17:20
Religion? Or Love?
The most common misconception of my beliefs is that somehow, because of this relationship I have with God, I am religious? Religion and relationship are two different things and I think for people to describe this love as religion, they are highly mistaken.
It is not through anything I have done but by the grace God has shown to me, that I am able to enter into this sacred love.
I personally hate religion. I hate the idea that anything I do, I do because it is dictated that I must (how hipster of me). I do things because of love. Love for others, but more importantly, love of God.
So dearest friends, when I show love and interest and care for you, it is not because my 'religion' tells me I must. It is because I honestly, truly and deeply care for you.
I show you the love that God has shown me; not necessarily to convert you (but if that happens, praise God) but because it is what I do.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)
I don't believe Jesus did anything he did to entertain the people he spoke to. He cut right to the core of their religious culture and offered a different way; the 'narrow road.'(Matthew 7:13-14) Otherwise, he could've performed miracle after miracle to show the wonder of God and to enthrall the crowds.
http://cutoutofstone.blogspot.com.au/