Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. – John 1:14 (NET)

I thirst for Jesus.

It isn’t always about Bible reading and studying. Yet, this is the only real Holy and human document describing Jesus the way that delights the One Living God, for I know it will be used as the plum line against which my life will be judged on the last day of human history.

In my personal spiritual growth, I find I can be an opponent of the Gospel without knowing it sometimes. But I am learning that I am safe in Christ to have such Holy conversations with Him. Christ Himself allowed opposing points of view. In my many readings, something I never hear Jesus say is, “You can’t think that or do that.”

He simply and gently corrects my thinking and shows me a better way to be.

When he walked the earth and stood up for himself, the Scriptures reveal to me a God-man who did so without applying un-Godly guilt to his opponents – that is, a guilt that goes beyond what God would impute on another’s conscience – neither did he show a shy modesty when defining himself and speaking up for the truly oppressed.

Jesus defined himself lovingly and didn’t let others derail nor distract him from his purpose under God, not even those who used spiritual reasoning to discourage his work.

Later the apostles confront this same spirit of religious oppression and discouragement in the early church.

So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? – Acts 15:10 (NET)

Why do I want to spend time straining gnats to fit through the eyes of needles and use my precious brain-space defending my spiritual positions with other siblings in Christ when I can draw daily from the Living Well Himself and run my personal faith race unhindered?

When I come into fellowship with my siblings in Christ, I love giving and receiving hugs, hear and speak, “how are you and is there anything I can [reasonably] do for you now”? and enjoy genuine conversations and fellowship without fear of differing points of view, experiences and personality temperaments separating us.

Being with Christ and studying Him every day also means seeing him in his design of family. Being with Christ also means that when I get up in the dark, spend my quiet time with God and then watch his artistic sun rise like clockwork, I want my art work in family and in hobby to reflect His Spirit.

As a follower of Christ, He lifts weights and bears burdens I have no business bearing that I may be salt and light in my race that I may do so for others.

Amazing!