GlocalNet

Yesterday as I was sitting outside drinking coffee with a friend a beggar approached us -  I did nothing.  He looked like a drug addict - so I was justified in not doing anything.  He probably would spend it on booze or drugs.  I did have a $50 bill in my back pocket.  It may have been a curse to have given him - or maybe not. I’ll never know.  What should I have done? I’m not sure.  Was I right? I don’t know.  I travel the world and am used to beggars, if you stop for all of them, you’ll never do anything else and many are there because of themselves.

I really enjoyed my personal worship time this morning.  I read about God calling Abraham - he begins his call on Abraham with one word - “Go!”  Just like the Great Commission!!!!  Then he tells him he’ll be a blessing to all families (nations, ethnos) of the world.  So Abraham being the ultimate disciple, goes - and the rest of his life - he primarily blesses others - not himself.  For him to leave his home, his wealth, as an old man, made absolutely no sense - he was already rich and successful in every way - he should enjoy his later years.  But, he was the ultimate disciple, and obeyed. 

I then read Luke 6 - the Sermon on the Mount.  In every way Jesus was a blessing.  He begins the Sermon on the Mount by saying “Blessed” because he was blessing us.  Read Luke 6 - it was non-stop blessing.  And it was blessing beyond our understanding of blessing - to the degree that it was opposite of what we would do.  He was healing people on the Sabbath, and the poor that couldn’t give an “offering”, at that.  He would bless his enemies.  We would bless those on the same page with us, who agree with us, who promote us, who we have something to gain from.  What did Jesus gain in all that blessing?  Our redemption - great - but what did he gain? 

His heart and his DNA are radically different from ours in that he would redeem something of his, that cost him so much whereby he would gain so little.  “It is more blessed to give than receive,” summarizes the heart of his disciples.  There is reciprocity when we give, God does bless and give back - not always in tangible money - but always something comes back.  What is the heart of the giver who when they give nothing comes back - and that’s ok?  What is the DNA of that giver - of money?  Yes, but of everything.  Can I give like that?  Do I want to give like that?  What does it take for me to give like that and bless like that? 

I look at what I do and I feel good about it.  I look at what Jesus does and what he models and I know I’m sorely lacking.  To give like Jesus - requires a radically different heart, DNA, mindset - beyond our human ability, and even, for most of us, our spiritual ability.  Only transformation through the Holy Spirit into the nature of Christ can make us not only feel open to that - but then be obedient to do it.  I think I can be obedient to do it - but can my heart be in it - or is it only an act that I bless someone because I know I’m supposed to.  “O wretched man that I am” only when my heart and my action are connected together will pure blessing proceed. 

Can I bless the Hindu, the Buddhist,  the Jew, the Muslim, the Communist, the homosexual, the mentally ill, the socially disgusting, the bully, the jerk, the nerd, the poor, the rich, the selfish, the angry, the tormentor, the terrorist, the manipulator, the black, the Arab, the beggar, the Yankee . . . . . . Honestly? - some yes, some no - . . . . that tells me where my heart is.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit today Jesus - flow through me Father so I can love and respond in an instant. 

I wonder . . . Was I right? Was I wrong? Was I hard? Was I wise? Where is that beggar?  Could I have made a difference?  Or, not . . . .