Listen Up

The most publicized Bible verse is probably John 3:16.  It has been called the "Gospel in a Nutshell" because it has the overall message of the Gospel (good news about Jesus): God loves the world, he gave his Son for the world, and those who believe in the Son will have eternal life.

Tim Tebow was a football player for the New York Jets this past year and has been quite controversial lately.  Throughout his college and professional career his has been a very outspoken Christian, known for "Tebowing" which is taking a knee and praying, which he will often do in the end-zone.  While he has not been the 'best' quarterback according to form and statistics, he won many games last year.

Before John 3:16, there was Deuteronomy 6:4-9.  The "John 3:16" of the Jewish Old Testament was the rally cry of the Israelites: There is One God - the Lord, so love the Lord with everything you have, and always talk about this Word of God that He has given to us.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
 ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

This section was not referred to as the "Law in a Nutshell" (though maybe it could be), but rather the "Great Shema."  Shema is the Hebrew word that commands people to 'listen' or 'pay attention' or 'hear' what is being said.

So many other cultures had a collection of gods - the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Hindu's, and every other culture.  Jews were 'odd' because of their claim that there is only one God in charge of everything.  Understanding John 3:16 can give others a better idea of what is important to Christians.  Understanding Deuteronomy 6:4-9 can give us a better idea of what has been important to the Jewish culture throughout time, including the Jewish culture of which Jesus was a part.

With Faith

There are a few chapters in the Bible that have such a strong theme that they are known by one word.
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the Love chapter.  "Love is patient, love is kind... and the greatest of these is love."

Hebrews 11 is known as the Faith chapter, containing the word more than two dozen times.

Luke 15 is sometimes called the lost chapter, containing the stories about the lost sheep, the lost coins, and the lost (prodigal) son.

Faith is important.  It is by grace we have been saved, through faith - Ephesians 2:8.  During the reformation a strong emphasis was put on three 'sola' phrases: Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, and Sola Scriptura meaning Faith Alone, Grace Alone, and Scripture Alone.

This side of heaven, faith and hope will support us through difficult times, but a day will come when God's Kingdom is realized and there will be need for neither, for God will be with his people.

Hebrews 11:1 
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11 not only defines faith, but it continues on with the powerful examples of faith that we see in the Old Testament from the likes of Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Moses, and many others.  Those people, as well as those we have known personally such as grandparents who lived a life of faith, have given us examples to emulate.  The author of Hebrews builds on the momentum of this great faith chapter to lead into chapter 12:

Hebrews 12:1-2
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Unexpected

One of my favorite stories of surprises is the first time Susan Boyle auditioned on the Britain's Got Talent television show.  When she entered, the judges and audience saw a goofy lady, but when she began to sing they were filled with awe.  The smiles and cheering are contagious.

One of my classmates in kindergarten would often be caught eating glue during our art and crafts time.  We may have laughed at the time, but now he is known as the guy who controls a multi-million dollar company, not the guy who eats glue.  

The truth of finding the unexpected is connected to the principle Jesus taught about judging.

Matthew 7:1-2

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

You are a wonderful person.  Sometimes people are able to see that, and sometimes that gets hidden in the messy reality of the world that we live it.  That messiness does not define you, so don't let it.  Don't judge others.  Don't let the judgments of others control you.

Unfortunately, we live in a world that will remain messy this side of heaven.  God is with you through that messiness, and wants to develop a deeper relationship with you.  He wants to talk to you, and he wants to listen, as well.  

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

He will answer the door, so don't hesitate to knock!

What we Need

What do you really need?  There are probably more things that we think we need than we actually need.  According to our science class, we need food, air, water, and shelter.  Society would say you need a job, community, and transportation.  The stores before Christmas tell me that I need the latest gadgets and electronics, and I am often tempted to think they are right.

Some theorists would say that we need safety, a purpose, and our highest need is love.  That may true since God is love.  1 John 4:8.

Six out of the seven petitions in the Lord's prayer deal with concerns that might be considered more spiritual: holiness, God's will, God's kingdom, forgiveness, temptation, evil.  One of the encapsulates all the physical concerns we have.

Matthew 6:9-13

   ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

   “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one.’

This is a little different than the version we usually say in church or chapel.  One of the more significant differences is the request to keep us away from "the evil one" and not just "evil" in general. That makes me curious why it would be rendered differently.  That middle verse, 11, is about physical things and it calls those things 'daily bread.'  It would have reminded people during Jesus' day about the Israelites who were only supposed to collect enough food for one day and depend on God.  It would also have reminded them of a Proverb.

^{Proverbs 30:8-9
8} Keep falsehood and lies far from me; 
   give me neither poverty nor riches, 
   but give me only my daily bread. 
⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you 
   and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ 
Or I may become poor and steal, 
   and so dishonor the name of my God.

It also might remind us that in John 6, Jesus referred to himself as the Bread of Life, the food that people really need.

As far as 'things': not too much, not too little.  As far as 'God': the more the better.

"God, help us want You!"