What Were Jesus' Commandments?

"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." - Acts 1:1-5 ESV

"You are my friends if you do what I command you." - John 15:14 ESV

""If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:15-17 ESV

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." - John 15:12 ESV

"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." - Mark 16:15 ESV

I see three primary commands given to these people.... stay in Jerusalem... love one another... go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.

There are two who tried to leave...

"That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ... When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together," - Luke 24:13-16, 30-33 ESV

They knew that Jesus had COMMANDED them to be in Jerusalem. Jesus was so gracious... He didn't chide them... He just loved them and walked with them away from where they were supposed to be.

I think we can put way to much stock in programs and what we thinks God wants us to to do. Religion demands things that Jesus Himself did not demand.

Be in places where you receive power
Love people
Evangelize

Those are 'abiding' things not religious duties.

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." - John 14:21 ESV

What a great promise!

It happened to them at Pentecost. It can happen to us also... not through a program but by abiding in the vine... living with God and being where He Is revealed.

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Rejection

Jesus made sure that God won't reject you... not active rejection (exclusion) or passive rejection (forgetting).

You might say, 'God doesn't exist so why would I care about that?' 

You only even entertain that thought because you fear that He will reject you. That you will die and it will be terrible or that you will be gone and forgotten.

Jesus was both passively and actively rejected 'as you' so that you could be accepted forever.

John 14:2-4 ESV — "In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”"

This passage covers Jesus' death (where they knew He was going but didn't want to accept it), resurrection, ascension, session (being seated in Heaven at the right hand of the Father) and standing up to greet us.

Acts 7:54-57 ESV — "Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him."

If we remember Him He can't forget us... won't reject us... but if we never know Him...

Matthew 7:15-24 ESV — "“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Those who want only gain will end up with only loss but those invest trust in the unmerited love of the Son will have a Father in Heaven.

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So Much More Than A Triangle

I've been thinking a lot about the 'Trinity' and the triangle used often in theology books to describe these three 'persons' and that diagram falls so far short.

We can relate to Jesus. He became one of us. He always was. We were created in His image and He was incarnated in time. We can relate to Him and He emptied Himself to relate to us.

The Father is beyond us. He is a person separate from the Spirit but we can not fathom Him... infinite... regal... fierce... wise... loving... seeing... Holy... high above all that we can now know. 

The Spirit also. If we believe He dwells in us but He is like the wind. We are inspired, taught and encouraged but He Is doing that with many of us simultaneously... so misunderstood... many see Him as a thing and He doesn't even correct them... He is involved in ways and on layers of humanity we can't fathom.

Three persons... Yes... But a triangle doesn't cover the eternal flow of that unbreakable but once broken relationship... broken at the cross for a 'moment' to let us in again. The flow... the love... the honor... the care... 

Jesus brings us into that flow... that embrace... we get glimpses... we know enough to use a phrase like... Holy Trinity... even though the majority of that dynamic reaches out beyond what we can see or sense.

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Courageous People Collaborate

If a person is naive they get taken advantage of. They may start out fearless but after getting hurt again and again they 'learn' to fear or avoid people.

Wise people see what motivates others. They deal with people realistically and learn from their mistakes.They face their fears and collaborate.

Joshua 1:9-10 ESV — "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” And Joshua commanded the officers of the people,"

Deuteronomy 31:6-8 ESV — "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”"

Ezra 10:4-5 ESV — "Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath."

It is shocking how many passages talk about collaboration linked to courage. 

We can cast our cares upon God and face our fears and we should but are we courageous if we can and won't work 'with' people? Will we let pain turn us into cowards? Our first and primary collaboration can be with God. Then He will give us wisdom about people. Once we understand people's motivations we will be able to have mutually beneficial collaborations.

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The Royal Mind Bears Fruit - Part 2

 The royal mind...

"He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." - Jeremiah 17:8 ESV

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." - John 15:4 ESV

We sometimes seem to cease to bear fruit but we are not the main character of our story. We are supporting characters and God's mind NEVER ceases to bear fruit.

Live there. He knows you and i and loves us in every season... Live there.

"Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?" - Amos 3:3 ESV

We agree to meet... where His words are spoken and The Holy Spirit speaks to us... using His book and people in interesting ways.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

Not fear, envy, doubt or hatred... living thoughts of life, hope and future exaltation. 'It is Finished' thoughts.

It is going to get hot and we may feel it but have a place to go where we are insulated... a strong tower where we run to... the royal mind.

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The Royal Mind - Part 1

 "[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable." - Proverbs 25:2-3 KJV

Kings are people just like us... in one sense yes but they are people put in an unique position...

"Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes KINGS and sets up KINGS; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him." - Daniel 2:20-22 ESV

"John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us KINGS and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - Revelation 1:4-6 NKJV

Do we have a royal mind? A royal mind is God given. Jesus has The Royal mind.

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," - Philippians 2:5 NKJV

A royal mind has great depth. It does not succumb to fear. It doesn't bow down to anyone but it's God. A royal mind serves. A royal mind washes feet. A royal mind plans ahead. A royal mind takes responsibility and has authority. A royal mind acts decisively.

We don't need dictators but we do need kings. God's Spirit in us creates a capacity for a royal mind to form.

"For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."" - Isaiah 28:10 NKJV

"Teach me to do Your will, For You [are] my God; Your Spirit [is] good. Lead me in the land of uprightness." - Psalm 143:10 NKJV

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." - John 14:26 NKJV

We can open the King's book and have His mind. What a awesome privilege and responsibility that is.

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Keeping It Simple

 Complexity.... things get so complex that we get overwhelmed... it can look hopeless and paralyzing.

Faith however is simple and simplifying... it is binary... we have it or we don't... i really like the Lord's prayer...

""Pray, then, in this way:
'Our Father, who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
'Your kingdom come.
Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. '
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'" - Matthew 6:9-13 NASB20

Each line flips a switch. Each line is a way to believe and a thing to believe in that shifts the focus and burdens off of us and toward God.

The God who Is
The Holy God
The One who Is going to show up in a powerful organized way
The One who wants things and makes them happen
We ask Him to feed us
We rely on Him to forgive us
We look for His leading and trust in His deliverance

None of that is complicated... it is simple...

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV

Casting cares is a mindset that frees us to do the next thing... our problems won't get solved if we are passive but we can have a clear mind as we walk ahead one step at a time.

"[Nun] Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105 ESV

Today i got a few things done and tomorrow i will do a few more. Some are steps i must take but i will also start and complete a few small things just to feel that simple sense of accomplishment.

"A Song of Ascents. Of David. O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore." - Psalm 131:1-3 ESV

Yes and Amen to that.

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