Good morning, dear ones.
I kind of blew it by being so preoccupied with this composition that I sat at the breakfast table with Becki and Thano and ate before doing my old man jog with Tazzy. I normally make sure I do that excursion before eating. Oh well. Even though it’s late and I’ve eaten, I’m going to go out to follow through with a little run and light up Tazzy’s life.
Sure enough—Tazzy was lit up and eager for the run. I’m sticking on a photo showing him before his two tennis balls and my flinger. He gets kinda bored with just one ball—happiest with two—and he easily carries the two in his mouth.
The answer the disciples gave in response to that very clear and specific question was this: A loud blast of TOTAL SILENCE. “No one said a word, because they had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest” (v. 34, TPT). Why were they silent? It has to be due to that emotional factor that we addressed yesterday—EMBARRASSMENT. They didn’t really want to admit the truth of how carnal, self-centered, and childish they were being.
Consider this: Do you suppose it could be that when we finally approach our eternal destination and are called to stand before our Sovereign Judge that He could ask the same specific question of us? “While you were navigating your Christian life journey, what were you arguing about on the way here?” If it isn’t already clear to you, it should be by now, that we are all pretty much made out of the same stuff as those disciples. After all, tensions, arguments, and debates are just as much alive and well today as they ever were. Even within the ranks of those claiming to be followers of Christ, all kinds of arguments persist over who’s the greatest, which church is the best, which theological spin is the most accurate, which format is most right for how to conduct church, etc., etc., etc. To be sure, if the central requirement of passionately loving God and truly loving those whom He loves is overlooked or rejected, then I have to conclude that all our excuses, debates, and arguments represent a big fat pile of you-know-what!—trivia at best!
One of the big arguments to continue within the Christian faith has to do with eternal finality—is there or isn’t there a real heaven to gain and a real hell to avoid? It’s almost like some “believers” don’t really believe—or like the early disciples with “no clue what Jesus was talking about…” (8:16, TPT). If Jesus is to accepted as THE TRUTH, how in the world is it possible for some “believers” to argue against the TRUTH of a real and terrible eternal HELL when Jesus describes it in no uncertain terms right here in this reading?! How is it possible for a believer to be a believer when they don’t believe what Jesus believes?! Please review the paragraph of 9:43-48—and say with me, “WOW!”
Let’s end on the meaningful note of where Jesus ends this reading: “Your lives, like salt, are to season and preserve. So don’t lose your flavor, and preserve the peace in your union with one another” (9:50, TPT)—by being one with your Maker/Savior/Lord—a HEART AFTER GOD.