Embracing True Opportunity: A Life with Jesus

and yet and yet we all know the world is filled with miserable rich people we know that's not it where do you go to find an opportunity that really is lasting that really is substantial that really matters and we're thinking about the words of Dallas Willards these days in the book The Divine conspiracy uh in the introduction services page 13 in Roman numerals my hope is to gain a fresh hearing of Jesus he says especially among those who believe they already understand it [00:01:37]

so now today I want to invite you to have second thoughts about Jesus and the opportunity that he gives you and I'm talking today now not about the opportunity for what happens to you after you die I'm talking about the opportunity for you to be rich today a much better richness than just richness and having verse talks about this richness in being to be filled with love to be filled with joy who offers that opportunity [00:02:27]

Jesus is automatically seen as more or less a magical figure who fits only within the categories of dogma and law Dogma is what you have to believe whether you believe it or not and law is what you must do whether it is good for you or not and we put Jesus in this category well I guess I'm supposed to believe these things or I'll get in trouble with God I guess I'm supposed to do these things even though I do not actually genuinely believe that they will be the greatest opportunity for a truly Rich vital Abundant Life [00:03:02]

now in fact Della says Jesus and his words have never belonged to the categories of Dogma or law have never belonged to the categories of Dogma or law and to read them as if they did is simply to miss them they are essentially subversive of established arrangements and ways of thinking Jesus is a an essentially subversive character to the world as the way that you and I experience it and the messages that we regularly receive but here's the opportunity that you cannot afford to miss [00:03:46]

he himself described his words as spirit and life not dogma and law not things that you have to believe in you don't really think they're true or stuff that you think you're forced to do even though it's quite arbitrary and unlife-giving spirit in life second thoughts the life and words that Jesus brought into the world came in the form of information and reality he and his early Associates overwhelmed the ancient world because they brought into it a stream of Life at its deepest along with the best information possible on the most important matters [00:04:33]

the early message was accordingly not experienced as something its hearers had to believe or do because otherwise something bad something with no essential connection with real life would happen to them the people initially impacted by that message generally concluded they would be fools to disregard it that was the basis of their conviction and then this invitation comes today and the question is what are the thoughts that come to your mind when you think of this man Jesus and his basic message that life with God life under guidance and wisdom is now available on this day [00:05:24]

individual Christians still hear Jesus say whoever hears these words of mine and does them is like those intelligent people who build their houses upon the rock standing firm against every pressure of life how life-giving it would be if their understanding of the Gospel allowed them simply to reply I will do them I will find out how I will devote my life to it this is the best life strategy I ever heard of [00:06:28]

and George McDonald wrote about this years ago in a way that's always been very very helpful and centering to me his character in one of his books supposed to be a pastor but realizes he don't even know what he believes and the question that both handsome and then centers him and turns his life around is this have I ever done one single thing because Jesus said to do it and he realized he never he never had he called himself a Christian but he never actually uh done one thing because Jesus said to do it [00:07:50]

and one of the problems there is often the way that we think about obedience we need second thoughts about obedience we think about obedience as just Mindless compliance Lemmings sheep jumping off a cliff no no no no no obedience rightly understood as full of initiative and creativity and Imagination and possibility it it builds on and does not detract from our Humanity but it does take from Jesus wisdom about how to live and to do what he said to become a person that loves God and loves other people to desire to bless including blessing those that curse me [00:08:38]

to lay aside anger as a means for revenge and bitterness to trust that God is with me enough today so that I can be with generous so that I can be generous to other people to look other folks in the eyes and see within them image Bearer image Bearer image Bearer and offer them kindness and encouragement and courageous truth from one moment to the next that's what lies before you today so the invitation right now is to say this is the best opportunity I have ever had I will do it I will do what he says I will find out how [00:09:13]

now today when anger comes or fatigue comes or fear comes or confusion comes or enthusiasm comes or you see another person or you have a problem that you do not know how to solve or you want to lash out or you want to hurt somebody or you want to be impatient to pause and say now my friend Jesus would you be my teacher can I walk with you through this day to look at this as a day of divine opportunity to be a spiritual 49er the best invitation ever given to the human race and it's yours today [00:09:53]

we hope that these videos help you to grow spiritually one day at a time if you'd like to find more resources you can go to our website become new.com there you can sign up for the daily emails that go along with each video you can access our full library of videos there and you can let us know if you're interested in some of the upcoming leadership resources that we're working on right now if you've got a prayer request we would love to pray for you you can text us that request at 855-88-0444 our team meets daily Monday through Friday to pray for those requests and so thanks for letting us come alongside you in your spiritual growth journey [00:10:48]