iCrucified

During the time I am away, I will reposting older entries from the icrucified blog. The following post was an entry from Mar. 13, 2009

40 Days Living the Jesus Creed [Day 15-17]

“You are the salt of the earth;

You are the light of the world…”

(Matthew 5:13, 14)

The past several days have been spent focusing on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (and for the next few days I will continue this focus). While this may be considered among the most straightforward of Jesus’ teaching in the Bible, there is nothing “simple” about it. When I read or hear these words of Jesus, I think; “Go and do…” However, at almost every point of the Sermon on the Mount, I am met with some measure of conflict. It is only by the Spirit and Grace of “Christ in me” that I am able to live this Jesus Creed…and I suppose that is the most significant of points that could be made…that is, it (the Life of Jesus) can be lived.

“In order to grow in God’s grace, we must first surrender to God’s grace…”

Points of meditation from the past few days of Living the Jesus Creed:

• “We are to love all those who love God”

Me: What is our responsibility to those who don’t love God?

• “Christians don’t always do what they should…but when Christians follow Jesus well, they put on an amazing display of love and compassion, and caring.”

Me: Lord, Jesus, help me to be an amazing display of love for your namesake…

• “Jesus Creed love (AGAPE) influences others in the way of Jesus…”

Me: Am I an influencer? How am I influencing?

• “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16) Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-20)”

Me: What, then…, is the manifest evidence of my faith? Is my faith shining before men and influencing them in the ways of Jesus and not bringing attention to me…?

• “Anyone who practices the teaching of Jesus is a great person… ‘Whoever does my commandments and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’”

Me: Those who say they live in God, should live their lives as Jesus did… (1 John 2:6)

Behavior – Motive – Confidence – Opportunity

Takeaway – Live to create a cycle of Grace… Greatness is measured by loving and living relationships; preparing and paving the way for a community of atonement, redeeming, reconciling, and restoring that which was formerly broken. R³ = the AGAPE Way and is the Jesus Creed.

Closing Prayer and meditation for the forthcoming weekend:

Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God the Lord alone. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. You must love your neighbor as yourself. You must commit yourself wholeheartedly to His commands. Permit us not, O Lord, to hear Your word in vain. Convince us of its truth, cause us to feel its power and bind us to Yourself with cords of faith and hope and love that shall never be broken. We bind to ourselves today, You our God: Your power to hold us, Your hand to guide us, Your eye to watch us, Your ear to hear us, Your wisdom to teach us, Your word to give us speech, Your presence to defend us, this day and every day; in the name of the blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to whom be the Kingdom, and the power and the glory , forever and forever. Amen.

(The Shema, Mark 12:28-32, and St. Patrick)