Daddy and I used to play a game where we’d ride all over Winston County in his Jeep, and I’d guess which concrete jobs he had done.
I was good at spotting his work because he’s the best, but even easier than finding pours that were his, was finding pours that were not his.
Uneven finishes, sloppy joints, and cracks were unacceptable signs someone else had done the job…
Which is why it leaves me speechless to hear people describe tragedies as God trying to get someone’s attention.
Do they not recognize His work?
That is Notgod, and Notgod has come to steal, kill, and destroy.
The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy…
~ Jesus
{John 10:10}
Look around and you’ll see rampant violent chaos, seduction, and illusion.
God is not a God of chaos; those things are Notgod.
So what is God?
What is of God?
If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.
~ Jesus
{John 14:9}
God is like Jesus, the one He sent to tell us that God loves us all so, so much—even though He knew we’d kill Him.
He sent Him anyway, and Jesus came anyway.
This is Love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son…
~ 1 John 1 4:10
It’s no wonder after listening to Jesus’ heartbeat at the most special Supper, John came to one conclusion: God is Love.
He came to tell us The Way to God, the way to live.
One day Jesus climbed the side of a big hill…
A crowd was gathered, helpless and harassed, staring back at Him in shifting silence.
And Jesus was listening to their innermost thoughts…
In their hearts they’re thinking, Jesus, you don’t understand…
Jesus, I’m dead tired of trying, my heart is broken and church-as-usual has gotten me nowhere. I want to be kind. I’m starving to know You better, but everywhere I turn I hear only judgment and condemnation—I want to know the real YOU. And I’ve really messed up; I need mercy. I want to start over again. My family tears each other apart like wolves and I’m part of the problem. But whenever I mention something I’ve heard You say, they turn on me and tear me to pieces. Whenever I try to follow You, I’m accused of being ‘holier than thou.’ Jesus! What am I supposed to do? I feel like giving up!
Jesus hears all of these heart-whispers, so He opens His mouth and speaks these words…
Blessed are you who are deeply poor in spirit, because God fills those empty places with His Kingdom.
Blessed are you with broken hearts, because God will comfort you Himself.
Blessed are you who are humble, because you’ve become exceedingly rich with what money cannot buy.
Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for God and His ways, because He will fill you spilling over.
Blessed are you who are merciful. Make no mistake: you’ll be shown mercy.
Blessed are you whose hearts are pure, because you’ll see God everywhere.
Blessed are you who work for peace, because you’ll be called God’s children.
Blessed are you when you’re persecuted for doing right, because God’s entire Kingdom belongs to you.
The crowd was mesmerized… There’s no condemnation in His Voice.
He’s just explained The Way to peace, the way to joy—the way to be blessed.
Followers of Christ are now called Christians, but they used to be called followers of The Way (Acts 9:2).
If you’ve had enough of the noise and don’t know which way to turn, I invite you to close your eyes and hear the Spirit of God breathe through the pages of The Bible, The Story of Jesus.
The whole Book has one purpose: to point to Jesus, who is The Way.
If your parched throat is tired of arguing, if your emptiness is more than you can fill, if you need peace, here is The Invitation…
Come to Me, everyone who is tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Because My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
~ Jesus
{Matthew 11:28-30}
Be still, and walk in The Way with Jesus the Messiah, the Nazarene who came to tell you God adores you, He is for you—not against you, and all our funnest, wildest, most colorful, dancing, beautiful, spectacular imagined things only hint at what He has waiting for everyone who loves Him.
Because of the unspeakable joy awaiting Him, Jesus endured the cross…
~ Hebrews 12:2
Today, in your spirit, choose Life.
Be done with everything that is Notgod—chaos, hatred, unrest, worry, anxiousness, division, gossip, self-destruction…
Jesus came to give us Life, so it would overflow out of us into the world around us.
I am The Way, the Truth, and the Life…
~ Jesus
{John 14:6}
The Gift that overflows out of those who choose to follow The Way of Jesus is the Spirit of God: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
There is no law against these things.
~ Galatians 5:22
It’s a new week. This is an Invitation to live.
This is The Way. We’re all invited to walk in it.
No matter which way you turn, you’ll hear The Voice behind you saying, This is the way.
Walk in it.
~ Isaiah 30:21