Here is the revelation that is that shaping my life today – have I lost sight of the truest sense of myself? Becoming me is not an exercise in obedience it’s the journey of being continually surprised by love. When I’m loved then the way I see you changes.
Matthew 7:12 TPT
[12] “In everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you’d want them to treat you, for that is the essence of all the teachings of the Law and the Prophets.”
Observation
Imagine if we all lived by the simple brilliance of this foundational teaching by Jesus. The world would be transformed immediately. But, sadly, as I personally reflect I see how often I do not live this shaping story. I walk past people in need, whereas if I were in need I would love someone to stop and acknowledge my existence and see if they could help. I dismiss people way too easily because they hold different views to me, whereas I do not want to be dismissed by others. It’s challenging to live this story even in my relationship with my most beautiful wife, I want her to sacrifice for me, but do i make the same sacrifices for her? What is it about us as humans that makes this beauty, that we all desire, so difficult to become our personal reality? Has the shaping stories of individualism and consumerism made me so deeply self focused and living in lack that my eyes have been turned from others to self in a defining way?
When you loose sight of love then you become a less version of the truest you. The love that created us, the love that I am made in the image of, is a kenotic love, it sacrifices self for others always. It is a give love not a get love. When I am reminded who I really am, the true shape of me, not the worlds shape of me, and as I live in the intimacy of encountering the one who is this give love, then this foundational teaching for life becomes an overflow of me being me. A way of life like this cannot be demanded, or coerced, or manipulated by reward or punishment, it cannot even be aspired to by self disciplined attention (although a measure may be reached with this approach). For it to be a joy and an overflow of the very essence of self, then my life must be lived in a progressive unfolding revelation and encounter of this love. I must be present to love and surprised by love, a surprise that only comes from presence. I will never grasp this love or this life by intellectual or religious deliberation, it is not something we figure out, it is something we are surprised by and it shapes us at a level of consciousness that is heart, soul, spirit. The clarity of the call is sharp and without shading, but the way to become the person of the call is mysterious and supernatural.
This is not a command to live this way – this is me.
Application
Be present and be surprised by love. Don’t hear command, don’t hear great life, just hear – this is me, one who “treats others in the same way you’d want them to treat you,” is the truest form of you, the real you. Then stay in loves’ company and be you. Becoming aware of me, the shaping story of me, and then being aware of where my brokenness interrupts me being me, and deliberately and intentionally walking into healing from all that keeps me not being me, this is the life of following Jesus. This is the model of death and resurrection that is clear in scripture. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, “ Be near the author of life, reflect the author of life.
Response
Thank you that you never make demanded commands salted with manipulation but rather you show me myself in all my fullness of the glory of your intention, and then you invite me into your presence to become all you intended. You make me completely right with you so I can become completely myself, then I shape my world in your glory. This is a great life.
Meditation
Meditate – treat others in the same way you’d want them to treat you.
Consider:
How much of the stories of the world, consumerism and individualism, and any other isms, are shaping me in way that is contrary to my true self?
Do I know how to be present to being loved?
JOURNEY DEEPER
