“THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ME” is my personal book of truth. I haven’t written the book, but it lives in my heart, mind, and body. My version of this particular book keeps changing, but I still think it is the best one. And if I had my way, you and everyone on the planet would follow it when we disagree. Unless, of course, “The Gospel According to You” or the Bible makes more sense; and in which case, I will happily amend my book to make an exception.
Blasphemy you say? Maybe, but I’m just telling you the truth about myself.
Do I wish I could follow the gospel according to Jesus? Of course! People see me as a church lady so naturally, I wish I could follow Jesus. But wishing doesn’t make it true.
I follow what I believe to be true. And don’t you as well?
If Jesus and I were standing on the edge of a cliff and he told me to jump, I might do it, just like Peter jumped out of that boat when Jesus told him to do so. But, Peter had Jesus in the flesh and all I have is blind faith. No, if I heard Jesus tell me to jump off the edge of a cliff, I’d want to ask my famous “Why” questions until I could understand just how he would keep me from dying. If he didn’t answer, I’d refer to “The Gospel According to Me”, which aptly says:
God doesn’t speak nonsense.
God wants you to live.
God wants you to use the brain he gave you.
And then I’d stay out of the sea for a while so I wouldn’t find myself swallowed up by a big fish for three days like Jonah to rethink my options.
See what I mean?
I easily forget that God does speak what appears to be a lot of nonsense. Remember, he’s the one that told Noah to build a big boat at a time before mankind had ever seen rain. He told Abraham and Sarah they would have a child even though Sarah was barren and very old. You get the picture. Even so, I have experienced so much goodness in my life when I followed what appeared to be nonsense to me, that I do believe God could defy the natural laws of nature.
This is why I have so many additional truths in my own gospel to refer to. I especially like my rule that says God wants me to live, even though Jesus says unless I die to my own desires, I cannot live.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.–Jesus (Luke 9:24)
Now we’re splitting hairs. It’s almost like President Clinton when he defended his position on sexual relations with “that woman”. Exactly what is sex?
And exactly what is life?
In my book, life is more than taking in oxygen. It’s when I have a full measure of love, respect, significance, and security—with an emphasis on security. And in times of trouble, when I’m standing on the edge of a cliff and know which way looks like death, “The Gospel According to Me” wants me to save myself. Instead of trusting God.
I’m learning that what I should do is jump when he tells me to jump—and stop with all the questions—and then watch with awe at how he saves me.
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.—Proverbs 14:12
Philippians 1:21,Matthew 14:22-33, Jonah 1:12-3:3
As always, it is my intent and hope that my words may encourage you wherever you are in your journey.
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If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.–Jesus (Mark 4:23)