Day 229 - Are you Denying Reality?
📖Daily Reading
Luke 17
Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.
📝 Reflection
Luke 17: 20-21
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”
Jesus replied, “the Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”
Ladies and gentlemen this is indeed THE good news, heaven is real and it is already here among us. To deny this is to deny reality. Believing in God is not denying reality or asking anyone to deny reality, it is accepting and living by the ultimate reality. The Pharisees have a meritocracy view of earning their way into a place, they are missing the true gift that we can all receive and experience, heaven on earth. This gift though does have a few strings attached here on earth though.
Jesus starts off this chapter talking about and acknowledging the reality of sin. It is exists and it is tempting. Lets first define sin, to intentionally do something that you know is not in your best interest or the best interest of others or the common good, or to go astray, go against or away from God’s laws or natural laws (this is my definition paraphrasing, as I understand it). The original Hebrew word is ‘hata’ which means to go astray. Jewish law - Halakha - is the way or path to live, sin means to stray from that path. Further another word uses from the Hebrew is ‘avera’ which means transgression. Which is why if we can manage to live according to God’s way then we can experience heaven on earth. This doesn’t mean that we can accomplish or are even expected to accomplish sinlessness, but when we sin we get back on the path immediately which requires humility, self awareness and personal responsibility.
Furthermore, we must do our best to avoid sin and more importantly not intentionally tempt others to sin, this he says is even worse than sinning; ‘it would be better to be thrown into a sea with a millstone hung around your neck..’. He also call believers to rebuke, this is a fancy word for criticize, or hold accountable, each other when one does sin. Notices this is specifically within the community of believers, by labeling ourselves as such we are saying that we have an understanding of ‘the way’ and are in agreement to do our best to live accordingly.
This can and should be done in a loving, respectful way, having a conversation vs. condemnation. Unfortunately even many believers choose the condemnation route not only with their fellow believers but also with everyone.
Next Jesus instructs us to forgive when someone repents. Repent means to change or turn from. Not just once but even up to seven times a day - vs. 4 ‘Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns against and ask forgiveness, you must forgive.’ This is not asking us to deny the reality that something has occurred in fact it is just the opposite.
Rebuking, repentance and forgiveness involve acknowledging reality in its fullness, with honesty, humility and love. Not taking things personally and holding judgement against someone or not glossing over and excusing bad behavior even if they haven’t asked for forgiveness. Not sure which end of the spectrum that you fall on, but my tendency is to gloss over and excuse, this is in denial of reality and it is not loving, although it can feel good and can masquerade as loving.
Another aspect to experiencing the reality of heaven on earth is to acknowledge and live according to our position in the order of things. We are the ‘top dog’ of God’s creation, but we are still part of creation, we are not the creator. When you realize this fully you realize also that you are not in charge, you are to be obedient to what is in charge. For me that is God, for you you can use what ever label works for you. But there is a natural law and order that is at work, is real and is in charge whether you like it or not and whether you obey it or not.
You can choose not to ‘believe in’ gravity, but if you walk off of a building you will obey it and fall. Surrendering to this truth brings a peace that surpasses all understanding. It keeps you in humble gratitude and wanting to obey it, because they consequences of obedience are life giving contrary to popular belief. We are to have faith and trust and live accordingly, then we can experience heaven on earth. I have been really trying to do this myself and I am getting a taste of it, it is the most real thing I have every experienced. It takes a lot of courage, vulnerability, hard conversations, brutal honesty, sharing what you have with others, forgiveness, patience, humbleness, and agape love all which do not come naturally to humans.
✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt
If you are not experiencing the reality of heaven available to you here and now, what can you do to tear through the veil?
📖Tomorrows Reading
Luke 18
Coaching Opportunity
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