I've been reading parts of Matthew in Eugene Peterson's "The Message" paraphrase the last few days, and I find myself challenged by these thoughts and words, from and about Jesus. (The copy I'm reading from is an old one, without verse numbers, so I'm not going to include the references for you, but just some of the bits and pieces that are catching at me.) They present an interesting sort of mission statement - for Jesus, but also for those of us who have chosen to follow him.
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God flavors of this earth."
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world."
"Be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."
"When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, fro then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves."
"In a word, what I'm saying is, GROW UP. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives towards you."
"Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace."
"Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!"
"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
"Don't be flip with the sacred."
"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need."
"First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."
"He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives."
"Don't begin by traveling to some faroff place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously."
Thursday, September 18, 2008
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1 comments:
Hi Lisa
these are excellent excerpts from Matthew, Message style. It really is a useful translation, isn't it? These words are very powerful. I particularly like the verses starting with 'find a quiet place', and 'give your entire attention..' Counter cultural.
I'm re-reading Phillip Yancey's Prayer at the moment. Some of what you've excerpted here resonates with what he's saying - about being real with God, like Job and the others, who 'had it out' with God when they needed to, and didn't pretend to him that everything was hunky dory.
Henri N has a good few entries in Daily Bread, on hiddeness, and God being able to get through to us when we've withdrawn from the noise and distractions of the world. Sometimes that's hard to do. I know I seem to want the world's attention at times, as if THAT will satisfy me. But increasingly I realise only God can get to the deepest, darkest places. Not to say we don't need human company, but there's needs that other people just can't satisfy.
Hope you have had a good day.
Cheers
Jenny
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