What’s The Least I Can Do?
(6 minutes)
We must learn how to embrace repetition. Repetition is how we learn anything valuable and how anything is solidified in our lives. As lovers who are being called out of religion and into the wilderness place, repetition is all the more important. Why? Because one of the lies that religion told us was that "hearing" the truth was all that was needed. So we made it our mission in life to consume and be hearers of the truth. But it's not simply hearing the truth that sets you free. Listen to Jesus' words again:
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "When you continue to embrace all that I teach, you prove that you are my true followers. For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives." (John 8:31-32)
The Message Paraphrase says, "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you...," and other translations say, "If you abide in My word...," then we will truly be followers of Jesus. Repetition is another word for abiding. We're camping out and making the words of truth that we're receiving our dwelling place. Abba is producing in us an unwillingness to move on until we see the truth we've already received beginning to manifest in our everyday lives. Repetition, our sticking with something, is a mark of maturity in the Kingdom man and woman. The Kingdom man and woman know that every truth embraced brings a release of true freedom. So they don't stop at simply hearing a thing, they only stop when they've seen that release of true freedom come into their lives because of the truth they received.
Let's visit the story of the rich, young ruler (who would later in life become the broke, old slave) one more time and see what Yahweh has to say to us.
As Jesus started on his way, a man came running up to him. Kneeling down in front of him, he cried out, "Good Teacher, what one thing am I required to do to gain eternal life?" Jesus responded, "Why do you call me good? Only God is truly good. You already know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give a false testimony, do not cheat, and honor your father and mother.'" The man said to Jesus, "Teacher, I have carefully obeyed these laws since my youth." Jesus fixed his gaze upon the man, with tender love, and said to him, "Yet there is still one thing in you lacking. Go, sell all that you have and give the money to the poor. Then all of your treasure will be in heaven. After you've done this, come back and walk with me." Completely shocked by Jesus' answer, he turned and walked away very sad, for he was extremely rich. (Mark 10:17-22)
Notice the question that the young man asks Jesus. "Good Teacher, what one thing am I required to do to gain eternal life?" Let's rephrase this question in a way we can understand. This would be like sitting down with your spouse and saying, "Honey, what's the one thing that will keep us from getting divorced?" This is basically the same question, because escaping hell, like escaping divorce, shouldn't be the focus of your intimacy with Jesus. Religion started with heaven or hell, to lay the solid foundation of the fear of punishment in your heart. But intimacy with Jesus isn't focused on where we're ending up, because it can't take its eyes off of the One who is with us right here and now. The Kingdom defines eternal life as knowing Abba, so you'd be hard-pressed trying to convince a lover that they're not already enjoying eternal life right now. (John 17:3)
"Good Teacher, what one thing am I required to do to gain eternal life?"
Jesus, what's the bare minimum I would have to give in order to access everything You have?
This week we're going to be exploring honor. But we will never fully embrace honor if we're holding on to this kind of "bare minimum" thinking. The Kingdom doesn't operate like a slot machine where pennies go in and thousands come out. The Kingdom operates like a marriage. The currency of the Kingdom happens to be the same currency we use in our relationships... honor. Like Pastor Tim said on Sunday, our honor will make us an appointment with our Bridegroom King. The Kingdom is attracted to honor, and honor is never looking for the least amount that it can give. Honor sees the value of the Other, and says, "I will rise and match the value and supreme worth of this One because I see how significant He is and I know that He has been life to me."
Let's prime our heart of honor today by letting go of any "bare minimum" thinking that we're holding onto. Let's let go of the fear of punishment that was planted in us by religion, so we can begin enjoying eternal life right now as we know our Abba. Let's speak over ourselves and our families, that we will be Kingdom men and women of honor, who can see the value and worth in every Kingdom seed and honor it into maturity. Let the standard rise above "What's the least I can do?" Let the love of Abba grip us to such a degree that anything it would cost us would be laughable compared to what we have received and are receiving in His love!
Beloved One, take His hand and He will show you the ways of the Kingdom, the way of honor!
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Worship: "Since Your Love" by United Pursuit
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
Share With Us: We would love to hear how you're encountering Abba in your daily walks. Don't hesitate to share what you're hearing, seeing, or sensing in His presence. Email us here!
