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Saturday, January 22, 2005
At the end of these two weeks of looking at Matthew 6 and some offshoots, and before we dive into our semester study of sanctification (the Christian's spiritual life, but a good SAT word), here's a question from a book I'm reading by Pete Greig:
"Next I invite you to imagine that you are looking beyond the words on this page, into the face of Jesus...He speaks your name...[Him talking to you]
...The question is this:
'Do you love Me?'
That's it. Just four words. Big deal.
And of course you know the answer right away. With a relieved smile, you reply immediately: 'Yes, Lord, You know I do." You've sung it a million times in church, and so, without a second thought, you say, 'yes.' We all say, 'Yes.' Hey--we're people who read Christian books! 'Yes, Lord, of course I love You!'
But the Lord's gaze is unbroken, and He is not mirroring your grin. He seems troubled by your reply. The question is coming again.
'Do you really love Me?'
A second time--does He doubt me? A little offended, you pause before answering, and as you do so, the question begins to penetrate. The intensity of Jesus' eyes is even greater, the dark probing lasers of his question going deeper still. And of course, you know why He doubts your first reply. He of all people sees those sins you've allowed to float to the surface. This is the question God has been want to ask for a while now, and at last you are coming to Him with ears to hear and a vulnerable heart that will not simply dodge the questio without a little thought. It's a real question from a Friend you sometimes hurt and a Lord who knows you deny Him more often than you let on. Hence the pain when He speaks your name. As you reflect on these things--your quick confessions of love, your easy infidelity, and your embarrassment now--you notice Him noddiing very sightly as if reading your mind. And maybe, just maybe, there is the faintest mist of a tear appearing in His eyes.
You whisper your reply.
Perhaps there is a hint of pain and shame in your features now, because something changes in the face before you. You see tears welling up, unmistakeably, but instead of sadness there is now joy. The eyes of your Lord looking at you seem now to have melted into such kind puddles of utter affection that you feel loved as deeply as you realize you are known. Of course, you understand by now that the question must come a third time, but you never expected there to be such surprising vulnerability in the One who asks:
'Do you even like me?'
And this time your anser to the question comes from the depth of your being..."
So...answer the question today. Honestly and succinctly.
After that, we can do business about the spiritual walk with Christ.
Brent 3:58 AM
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