A ring and a robe!

My favorite 'Jesus' story is the prodigal son. One of the most amazing things in the story, to me, is that the wild and disobedient son ends up with all the blessings (family ring, designer clothes, and tail gate party) and the hard working, obedient son doesn't! What's up with that?

Guess what? Blessings aren't released to us because we obey and serve, or even because we are part of the 'family.' They come because we choose to hang out with 'Abba'! Isn't that amazing?

I don't have to earn blessings (in fact if I think that is true, and work hard to 'deserve' blessings, I will end up missing out on them, and resenting those who get them!) Blessings are released (in abundance) to those who simply value the Father enough to want to hang out with him. Wow! What a great deal that is. Sounds like 'good news.'

So, let's give up working hard and being diligently obedient in order to please the Father, or even to get blessings, and just choose to 'hang out' with him ... keep coming to him 'as is' and just receive the blessings that flow from him to his children who love him with all their hearts.

ps - Of course we will want to serve and obey - because we are delighted to, not because we 'have to' or to gain Father's favor!

Fire in the heart

'he will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.' Matt 3:11 The Message

As 'spiritual leaders' it is very easy to slip into focusing on external conformity to moral rules and standards. It is so satisfying - seeing our people 'performing' and looking 'holy.' But - it seems to require a lot of energy and hard work to keep them 'performing' up to standard. Right living is important (if we don't live 'well', we will experience 'sickness' in our relationships, etc.), but is only authentic and lasting if the motivation comes from a changed and fired up heart. When our heart is full of real kingdom of heaven life - we will live well, not becuase we 'should', but because we can (and want to).

As a spiritual leader, I am determined to focus more on keeping my people ignited in their hearts with a passion for the kingdom of heaven, and full of the fire of the Spirit, than on performing and conforming to 'rules, standards, and expectations.'

Understudies/stunt doubles

In the theater the lead actors often have an understudy - a person ready to step in and perform their role in case they are not able to be on stage and act. The understudy prepares to step in and speak the same words as the lead actor would, carry out the same actions, and interact with the same characters. The understudy never gets their name in lights, or on the program, but serves on behalf of the lead actor.

We as followers of Jesus are called and commissioned (John 14:12, 20:21) to be understudies (stand in, stunt doubles) for him. Now that he has 'stepped off the stage' for this time period, we get to step in and speak his lines, carry out his activities, and interact with the same people he would if he were in my situation today.

So - as an understudy of Jesus, I desire to know his words, know what he would do, know how he would act, react, and interact with the people in my sphere of influence. I do it all so that he will 'look good' and get rave reviews. I do it without desire for applause and fame and reward. Every morning as I rise, I want to be ready to 'step on stage' and stand in for Jesus.