Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Body world

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

John 5:17-19
Jesus said, "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus said to them, "I say to you, the son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; what he does, the son will do also."

There are some lies I sometimes believe about myself:

1. I must meet certain standards in order to feel good about myself.
2. I must have the approval of certain others in order to feel good about myself.
3. Those who fail (including me) are unworthy of love and deserve to be punished.
4. I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless.
(from Search for Significance by Robert McGee)

Do I believe these statements? Are they true or false in my life? When? With whom? Where? How can I make them less true?

When I spend a lot of time with myself (and looking to others) instead of with my Father, those questions are a big deal. Jesus says he is doing his Father's work. He asks different questions now. If someone were to ask him these four questions, he would likely write N/A on his form: Not Applicable. He just doesn't have the same problems when he looks to his Father. His focus has changed.

The Jewish leaders were offended that Jesus called Yahweh his Father. At least they noticed. Because Jesus brought more than a new understanding of God to his people. He brought God to them. God to earth. God to body. This man Jesus is going to show them/me how to live as a man made by God, who looks to his Father for all his direction and strength. Jesus doesn't wonder whether or not he's loved; God is love. So is he.

So am I. Made in God's image and therefore perfectly capable of "being" love. Of course I forget, but always I can come back home to that Fact.

This man Jesus shows me how.

I think, Lord, of the image we have called the "sacred heart." It's your heart, Jesus. Beating just like mine. In your body, just like mine. Made and held precious in His hands by your Father, just like mine. You are God, and I am not. But my heart beats in time with yours, not in time with the world. Thank you.

*lots of sacred hearts: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1679&bih=956&q=sacred+heart&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=

Devotions Archive

Body world

Wednesday, April 6, 2011