The Way part 4
The Way (that leads to life) is straight and narrow. Because there's only one way to truly live: Living by loving. Because living and loving aren't just connected... they are the same thing. Let me connect two verses of Scripture to try to make this point. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death" (1 John 3:14). When you hear the Word (which is Jesus, which is love) and believe that Word... that's when you know you have passed from death unto life. Because that's when you start actually living. Not going through the motions, or wandering around like the walking dead. Chasing the carrot but always only getting the stick. Trying to earn your bread with the sweat of your brow. That's not living. Because if you work for a living, why do you kill yourself working? And, listen, I'm NOT saying you shouldn't work. Paul wrote, "for even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). That's not the kind of bread I'm talking about. I'm talking about the bread from heaven. Manna. Or, if you want, the hidden manna. The white stone with your new (true) name written in it. The truth that is available to those with an ear to hear. Hearing the Word is the first step. Yesterday we spoke about training up a child in the way he SHOULD go. Building up instead of tearing down. Telling people what's RIGHT with them instead of what's wrong with them. That Word from behind (the first, and really only, Word God ever spoke) that redirects us when we turn to the right or the left. When we were dead in our trespasses and sins (before the cross) we went left, right, and center. Trying to get whatever we could however we could. Doing the best with what we had while believing that we didn't have anything. Weren't worth anything. "I'm just a sinner," right? And even now I keep hearing, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." Well... if you've been saved by grace (and you have!) then you aren't a sinner anymore. You're a saint. You were quickened. Brought back to life. And not just life, but Jesus' abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love! Not so that you could keep trying to do it yourself. Because nobody can live Jesus' life except Jesus. We can't follow in His foot steps. But Jesus can, and will, live His own life in you, and through you, and as you. Filling you up with love so that you can fill yourself up with what you've been filled with and let it out. Jesus can, and will, make His own foot steps with your feet. He can, and will, speak His Word with your mouth. That's what happens when you let the mind of Christ (that's already in you) BE in you. When you USE what you've got instead of trying to get something you think you haven't got. When you know what you have--who you are--you can experience it by giving it away. Because what you have is love. Who you are is love. Jesus. God in the flesh. Love in a body. And that's how you stay on the right path; by giving what you've got. By letting God love you and loving others with that same love!