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Sharing more than breadSaturday, January 5, 2008
John 1:49-51 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
1 John 3:14, 16
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers ... The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us.
I think that's what Jesus was telling Nathaniel. "You're excited when I give you a gift, Nate; but let me tell you, the gift you really want is not about you; it's about me. When you really see me at the center, and let it be, and love the place you've been given rather than coveting my place at the center, then ... ... "You shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." How do I know when that's happened for me? In his letter John says I know because I love my brothers. Like Jesus did, I become willing to die, to lay down my life for my friend. In other words, I have to die to come into new life. Living on the edge of that wheel, rolling hard down rocky paths, I'm getting bruised and broken without much break. I'm dying all the time. Can I stay out there without clamoring like crazy up those spokes to the safer center? How do I stay where I belong? Jesus said, "Father forgive them." He wants me to say the same thing. Jesus said, "God is in charge of my life." He wants me to say the same thing. Jesus sacrificed his personal life and gave all his energy to others. He wants me to do the same thing. Jesus was never in a hurry to hang on to what belonged to him - not his time, not his possessions, not the accolades of the people. It all belonged to God anyway. He wants me to think the same way. When I think like this, there's just nothing to lose. All is calm, and all is bright. Son of God, love's pure light ... radiant beams from Thy holy face ... with the dawn of redeeming grace ... Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. |
There's this wheel, see, and God's the center of the wheel and he sends spokes out to all of us, and we're all out here on the edge of the wheel hanging on for dear life while the universe just rolls and flows and rolls and flows. If the grip of God's gravity wasn't so strong, we'd just be thrown off like dry leaves before the wild hurricane. Fly.