The BEST THING in life

In his excellent book, ”The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” John Ortberg tells the story of cranky Hank, a church member who despite knowing the Scripture, faithfully attending church services, and saying his prayers, never really goes through a spiritual transformation. Hank remained a critical, self-centered, miserable man and, as Ortberg writes, nobody in his church found that a cause for concern. After all, there are millions of “Christians” who are orthodox in their confession without ever moving an inch towards becoming like Christ Jesus. Could it be a failure of vision, that we have not caught a glimpse of the possible?


Has the dreary life of religious duty become so commonplace that we cannot remember that the genuine experience of being a Christian is to bring us delight? Does the Spirit captivate our hearts and minds causing us to engage fully in a process of real soul change? Is the beauty of Jesus emerging in us, like a butterfly unfolding out of a chrysalis? Or, have we become like the Pharisees who fought with Jesus? Those religious men knew that the heart of the law was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:4-6, NIV) Yet, they turned their relationship with God into an obsession with circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath rules. In a scathing rebuke to them, which we read in Matthew 23, Jesus rejects their superficial spirituality. He tells them that they are “pious frauds, cups burnished to high shine on the outside but filthy inside, gleaming tombs full of bones, men who strain a gnat out of their soup while ready to swallow a camel!” (A little of Jesus’ sense of humor showed in that last statement!)

Disciple, we are incurably religious. Unless our gaze is constantly reset to Jesus, the Cross, and the promise of Spirit life; we will slide into rule-keeping and call it “Christianity.” We will become obsessed with performance measures based on where we go, what we eat or drink, who we hang out with, church attendance, Bible memorization, and conformity to the our group’s rules. Holiness is important. Christians who are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus will not get drunk, spend their nights in casinos, or cuss like the proverbial sailor! When Jesus pointed out the Pharisees’ mistaken focus on their rules, He said, "You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." (Matthew 23:23, NIV) The reason we will live a holy life, however, will not be prove our worth to God or man, but because we delight in the One whose Spirit lives in us and changes us – inside out!

Reflect on this word from the Word, disciple.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and to get the treasure, too!


“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" (Matthew 13:44-46, NLT)

Is your relationship with Christ a treasure, or a ball and chain?
Is the Gospel of Christ making you a beautiful person, full of life, overflowing with love, joy, and peace; or has a religion turned you into a critical, judgmental, sour zealot?

I love this promise and pray it is always true in us:
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)

That’s the best thing in life!
_______________

Jesus is all the world to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without Him I would fall;
When I am sad, to Him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad,
He's my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me,
I want no better friend;
I trust Him now, I'll trust Him
When life's fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He's my friend.

Jesus Is All The World To Me
Thompson, Will L.
© Public Domain