A Stumbler's Walk | Called & Kept

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

--Jude 1

I remember the days when a phone - on the wall in the kitchen - would ring. It was a real ring, not a tone or a song. This was in an ancient time when Roaming meant you had an extra-long spirally cord from wall unit to handset.

In those days a ringing phone was exciting - of course I was young and typically thrilled by a rock or a block of wood. Most exciting though, was when the phone rang and then I heard, "David, it's for you." Someone had called me.

Jude reminds us that Jesus has called us by name. This is deeply interesting too. You see, Jude was most likely the half brother of Jesus; we surmise this in his introduction as James' brother. So why is this a big deal? Apparently James and Jude - and most of Jesus' family - did not buy in to his God-ness (or Christ-ness, Creator-ness, Savior-ness) while Jesus roamed the Galilean hills. It was not until Jesus' gruesome death and odds-breaking, glorious resurrection that Jude believed. And though he had been a doubter and a nay-sayer, Jesus called him by name.

Jesus has called you (and me) by name. With phenomenal grace, he meant to dial, and he asked for us... "David, it's for you."

Just as importantly, Jude tells us, this calling grace is keeping grace. The same power that overcame death in a cave-tomb, walked water and healed lepers; that is the power that called us by name. And it is the same power that continues calling and keeping us by his side daily.

It is good to be called. It is good to be kept.

God, keep me close; especially when I tend so often to roam.

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | HUMBLE

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

--3 John 1:9

As faith increases, so should humility. Arrogance is never the offspring of an authentic relationship with God. Pride, instead, is often the product of religious systems. And ultimately arrogance is a result of comparison. 

But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. 

--Corinthians 10:12

Humility is not found in thinking less of ourselves, true humility results from thinking of ourselves less. Jesus' great commandment that we love God and others requires a healthy self perception - a love of self. 

And love your neighbor as you love yourself. 

--Mark 12:31

False humility is unbecoming. In reality, it is born from the same womb as arrogance - a blinding focus on self. When we are secure in the love God has for us, we are free to focus on others. (I am as much a work in process as anyone reading this post.) 

Pride, whether it is overt or the religious falsely humble sort, stands in the way of what God desires to do in us, and through us. It stifles our growth. It stagnates our joy. Actually Jesus addressed this:

The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. 

I came that you might have real and abundant life. 

--John 10:10

God, forgive my arrogance, especially the pride that hides as religious self-deprecation. I am humbled in the face of your presence and grace.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | PROOF

And this is love, that we walk 

according to his commandments.

--2 John 1:6

What do I love? Who do I love? How do I prove it?

Love - real love, not a watered down sentimental version, or the overly-romanticized Hollywood depiction - compels the lover to action. As I wrote in a previous post - LOVE DOES:  http://davidmstanleykineticlife.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-stumblers-walk-love-in-action.html)

There is a popular adage that when examined, really makes no sense at all. The saying goes: THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. But pudding statically sitting in a bowl (as pudding does), offers no proof of anything. Pudding may look pretty. It may smell nice. It may be enticing. But it has proven nothing. (In pudding's case, it has not proven to be tasty.)

We tend to water things down. And the above saying is a watered-down version of a 14th century proverb that goes: THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE EATING. Now that makes sense. The pudding's goodness or badness is tested-out when it is tasted. The PROOF comes when pudding does something (or technically in pudding's case, when something is done to it).

Enough of pudding... what's the point? Love, and in the context of 2 John, love for God, cannot be proven merely by words. When love just sits in the bowl it may look pretty. It may smell nice. It may be enticing. But until love does what it is meant to do, it has proven nothing. We might say, LOVE MUST BE TASTED TO BE TESTED.

We sometimes talk of our love for God. But it is just pudding in a bowl. Our love for God is proven in our actions. And throughout the New Testament we see and are told that true love for Jesus is lived-out in how we extend grace to people.

The Commandment John refers to in this letter is to love as Jesus loved. It is plural in the context, because love always does in a multitude of ways. Jesus put it this way:

I'm giving you a new commandment, 

that you love one another just as I have loved you.

-- John 13:34

Lastly, it is a daunting directive - to walk according to his commandments, to love as Jesus loved.  Frankly, I fail continually. And it is much easier to live a The Proof Is In The Pudding life than it is to give tastes. Allow me to leave you with two thoughts:

Thought #1: Love is typically not proven in huge leaps. Love is lived in baby-steps. 

Thought #2: The more we love, the more we do. And the more we do, the more we love.

God, help me to love with a love that is tasted and proven to be like Jesus, rather than my norm of leaving it in the bowl.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | IDOLS

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 

-- 1 John 5:21

Idol: To this day, the picture in my mind when I hear or read that word is a small, fat, and unhappy carved Buddha-looking fellow hanging from a coarse hand-woven cord as a necklace. (1. That is among the top three strangest sentences I've ever written. 2. My understanding of idols was obviously, in some way, shaped by Gilligan's Island.)

Idols though, are more difficult to spot. Most hide in shadows of our hearts and minds, looking for opportunities. When we are hurting, an idol may step in. When we are angry... idol. When we feel strong desire, ambition, uncertainty, etc., an idol is more than willing to become our place of comfort, motivation, refuge or purpose. 

It is interesting John closes out this letter to believers (whom he endearingly calls little children) in such a way. Most letters close with an heartfelt goodbye, or a doxology of sorts. Not here: ...keep yourselves from idols. There is obviously something urgent and relevant to his words. 

The context of the letter as a whole, as well as the last few verses, paints a picture of idols. Idols are untruth. Idols are those things that demean and undermine the truth of God - who he is, what he has done for us, and the life offers. Idols are those things that pull our eyes and hearts away from the love of God. 

We (metaphorically) wear them around our necks, both knowingly and unaware. Idols can be incredibly comfortable (and fashionable). But they steal life and joy in the same way a tick makes its living on a host. 

Keep yourselves from idols. Why? Because idols tug our hearts away from God's love; because small idols can block big vision; because self-carved little buddha-men are poor substitutes for the God of all. 

God, give me vision to spot the idols that weigh me down. Forgive me for trusting my hand-carved creations over you. Free me to experience your love, life and purpose.

For now... 

D

A Stumbler's Walk | HIDING PLACES

There is no fear in love, 

but perfect love casts out fear.

--1 John 4:18

Fear cannot reside where love is. In the same way light, by its very presence, drives away darkness, true love chases away fear. 

As children, we played Hide-and-Seek. I remember feeling a strange dread while hiding in corners of dark closets. I could hear the IT coming close and I would try not to breathe. Fear of being exposed was a little too gripping for a simple child's game. If the IT might just pass me by, just this once, I'd bolt from my hiding spot in hopes of reaching Home Base. There at Home Base I could stand and face the IT with no fear - no fear of exposure, no fear of being caught, no fear whatsoever. 

As adults we play Hide-and-Seek. The game is more covert. It is internal. And it is not much of a game. We hide in closet corners of our own construction. And in the darkness, we fear being exposed. 

Ironically, in this version, there is no IT. Maybe better - the hiding itself is the IT. Lastly, lest I stretch the analogy too far, Home Base is not a static destination. Instead, our Home Base is a person. He is a person both to whom we run for refuge, and who seeks us out even when we hide in shadows. 

His light exposes us. But just as darkness races away when light invades, fear fails when love enters the scene. Fear becomes memory, and at Home Base we find freedom. 

Jesus said, "I came to seek and save that which was lost," (Luke 19:10). That includes us, hiding in the shadows of our closet corners. He seeks us out and he shines darkness-defeating light into our lives. 

Where light is, darkness cannot be.

Where love is, fear cannot be.

Where Jesus is there is light and love. 

God, forgive me of my closet corners. Be my Home Base.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | LOVE IN ACTION

Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. -- 1 John 3:18

"Love doesn't just think about it... love doesn't just plan it... LOVE DOES IT." - Bob Goff, author of Love Does.

I am fairly certain if someone were to hide in the bushes and spy on my life, they might witness vast periods of love inaction. (In case your brain is in weekend mode and you don't have your Google machine handy, inaction, is the opposite of action. Now, as personally indicting as that sentence is, I invite you to read it again.)

Jesus once said, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." The difference between Jesus and most religion, is that after saying this Jesus did it. In reality, his whole life was a continual demonstration of love in action. 

Our words are certainly important. With them we can build and destroy. As a matter of fact the writer of Proverbs reflects, "The power of life and death is in the tongue," (Proverbs 18:21).

Notice again how John states it, "Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." I think there is an implied "only" after "talk;" especially when he adds "in truth." The point? True love is love in action. It is demonstrated when loving words are proven in loving action (deeds). To quote Bob Goff: "LOVE DOES."

God, forgive me for my love inaction. Help me to demonstrate love in action. 

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | ABIDE

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

-- 1 John 2:6

It is easy to claim the name of Jesus. (Even easier to talk of God or gods.) The substance of our faith however, is not found in our words. The true measure of faith is revealed in how we live. 

According to James, faith does...

I will show you my faith by my works... faith apart from works is dead.

-- James 2:18, 26

Social media is filled with inspirational spiritual quotes and reminders. And I am often needing of the shots in the arm. But I must remember faith - true, real faith - is not found in my words, it is my belief in action. Very frankly, no one is impressed by my religion. (And if I am working to impress, I've missed the boat entirely.) 

How did Jesus walk (live)? 

He walked in compassion... Lepers weren't to be touched. Jesus hugged and healed. Sinners were to be avoided. Jesus ate and drank with them.

He walked in grace... The humble were never turned away (and condemnation was saved only for those who self-righteously misrepresented God - though the offer of grace was extended even to these). 

He walked in power... Thousands fed, water walked, disease healed, dead raised, enough said.

He walked in truth... Without truth compassion and grace are sentiment, and power turns vindictive. Truth's core is not in right beliefs - it is right being (or in the context, right abiding).

He walked in love... And the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

God, help me to abide with Jesus that my faith may be real. 

For now...

D