Jesus has a way of polarizing people...not necessarily because of who He is, but because what he exposes is in people's hearts.
Jesus' teachings are easy to understand but always leaves a choice that calls for drastic reactions because the depth of his sacrifice leads one to a decision where one cannot let go of the definitions that the person has built up for himself/herself or one can accept the overwhelming discovery of an endless God pouring Himself over and in limited mankind.
Neither one can fully fathom/understand of Jesus' great sacrifice nor the magnitude of a great God willing to sacrifice for his creation on behalf of intimate relationship and fulness of His glory in our lives. But as one is willing to take steps closer to Him and the other takes a step away, this is the heartbeat of obedience and disobedience towards God.
Although rules may be involved, the heart of the "yes" and "no" towards God is what God is searching for. He isn't looking for perfect people. He already knows we are not perfect. He is looking for people who will meet, grow and know Jesus in a heart/love relationship.
Even Christians struggle in grasping this concept of obedience, defaulting to rules, keeping to strict regulations, tallying points, charting progression and in the meantime somehow love gets kicked out of relationship and the passion, growth and fire of relationship dies. That is why God is so angry against pride, because a hardened heart does not produce intimacy but lets it die. That is also why God loves the humble because where honesty and truth in communication is, even in the stumblings, mess-ups, missed marks can growth and true change build as relationship grows.
How easy for us to know this in our own human relationships but do not see that that is how our Creator has made us to be. We function this way because He created us to be this way and even with Him. Amazing isn't it?
And when we realize that He is an infinite God whose love is the very definition of who He is, unlimited in all resources and power and He is for us, who wouldn't be so excited to take on life with great gratitude, joy, pursuit, etc.? Not to say that there aren't any mundane tasks of life, but the tasks will not take us over. It will not be the definition of our identity. We leave that to God and thank Jesus all the way.
Jesus' teachings are easy to understand but always leaves a choice that calls for drastic reactions because the depth of his sacrifice leads one to a decision where one cannot let go of the definitions that the person has built up for himself/herself or one can accept the overwhelming discovery of an endless God pouring Himself over and in limited mankind.
Neither one can fully fathom/understand of Jesus' great sacrifice nor the magnitude of a great God willing to sacrifice for his creation on behalf of intimate relationship and fulness of His glory in our lives. But as one is willing to take steps closer to Him and the other takes a step away, this is the heartbeat of obedience and disobedience towards God.
Although rules may be involved, the heart of the "yes" and "no" towards God is what God is searching for. He isn't looking for perfect people. He already knows we are not perfect. He is looking for people who will meet, grow and know Jesus in a heart/love relationship.
Even Christians struggle in grasping this concept of obedience, defaulting to rules, keeping to strict regulations, tallying points, charting progression and in the meantime somehow love gets kicked out of relationship and the passion, growth and fire of relationship dies. That is why God is so angry against pride, because a hardened heart does not produce intimacy but lets it die. That is also why God loves the humble because where honesty and truth in communication is, even in the stumblings, mess-ups, missed marks can growth and true change build as relationship grows.
How easy for us to know this in our own human relationships but do not see that that is how our Creator has made us to be. We function this way because He created us to be this way and even with Him. Amazing isn't it?
And when we realize that He is an infinite God whose love is the very definition of who He is, unlimited in all resources and power and He is for us, who wouldn't be so excited to take on life with great gratitude, joy, pursuit, etc.? Not to say that there aren't any mundane tasks of life, but the tasks will not take us over. It will not be the definition of our identity. We leave that to God and thank Jesus all the way.
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