Jeff Reynolds One desire: The Day Turns into the WAY. Knowing God from Every Point You Meet Him

Everyone caught up in the salvation in Jesus Christ...

Had an encounter, a Day.

A moment. A realization. A prayer. A starting point. A beginning in Christ.

Nearly every believer understands the importance the Day made in their eternal story.

Equally so, most understand that being born, awakened, or to come to life in Christ is the starting point.

The DAY.

Few believe the DAY is the end.

That's like believing we get born and that's it.

No one in their right mind believes that newborn babies are finished; of spiritual babies, that there is nothing more to be done, just to die and go to heaven.

There's always an eternal road out in front of the Day.
Isaiah 49:11

So why would we believe salvation is just about being born?

Waiting for some far off day to step into heaven, are believers to simply live like every other person of our culture and time?

Some believe they get a ticket on the DAY. A sort of getting out of hell free card.
That's it. God stays in heaven, with nothing to do but wait for us all to arrive?

That's all that happens?
Everyone simply goes on living however they want?
Waiting for the day they go on into heaven. The sweet bye and bye.
Wow.

Seriously?

Yes. I've talked with people with this view. This idea brings home the "I never knew you" phrase of Jesus.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Jesus is pointing to those who don't actually know him but act like they do. Tragedy.
They are doing religious stuff and somehow have no connection to Jesus himself. This can lead to a miserable life.
"Doing good things for God" - Things he never asked them to do.

"Not doing any of the things for God"-- Things he actually asks us to do.

Seriously?

The prayers-less faith of so many...
The "no visible sign of Jesus" lives people live...
The "I prayed a prayer and I'm good" Laodacian passion...

And we really believe the statement above from Jesus is for "other people"?

Yes. Praying a prayer works. I've seen it on many occasions. And people grow up and follow Jesus.

Maybe we should include in the interpretation of the DAY a "hey awesome, you prayed the prayer, now come follow me as I follow Christ." I Corinthians 11:1

Most understand that the Day of Salvation leads to the Way of Salvation. Walking us in the Spirit into all the Ways of the Lord.

Jesus mandated his followers with this...

"Teach them to obey all I have commanded you".

Matthew 28:18-19

It's not a mandate of words and religion.
It's a mandate of life and real living.
Demonstration.
Teach and do.
This is the Jesus way.

There is nothing virtual about living out our faith.
Yet so much appears invisible.
In our heads.
Not on the written words of our lives.

When you look down and see a three-year-old imitating you as you brush your teeth, you realize "teaching them" is much more than a lecture or the intake of information.

When I noticed my three year old son brushing his teeth like me and looking up at me and doing everything I was doing..... Fear coursed through me. A sober awareness of my involvement in shaping this little one.

Wow. He sees what I do more than what I say. That changed my whole outlook. Parenting and giving away the life I believed I had, took on a whole new vast moment to moment responsibility.

I don't think Jesus was saying, "please say all the things I said to them and we'll be good."

Teaching to obey carries a real, "I am modeling and obeying Christ and this is how you do it" tangibility. It's really hard to say that if you are not actually doing it. And so goes so much of our witness and discipleship. IT's Virtual. In our heads. Secret. Not demonstrated.

Somehow we have a stronghold of thought that says, "If I believe the right things and agree with all the truths about Jesus, I will be saved." This is the massive doorway to religion. It is simply a "work" of the intellect. If we don't receive a direct lead to knowing Jesus (John 17:3), to follow him, to walk in the Spirit, to go with his Gospel, or disciple others, possibly it is pure religion we are peddling and receiving. Pharisee stuff. Blind Guides.

This is a turning point that cannot be overlooked. Religion is easy. It is natural to condemn, enslave into law, judge and shame. This is 101 flesh life. We condemn ourselves so freely in religion. This is not our faith. Rooted and established in the love of Jesus and the righteousness of his Kingdom.

More than all the above, what if we invited people to follow us as we follow Christ when they pray a get out of hell prayer?

"Hey, come and follow Christ with me." This is so much more than simply saying Jesus' teachings and getting a head nod of agreement. We are invited to walk in the Spirit. To demonstrate Christ with every step.

Of course a brand new baby, born that DAY, does not grasp the wonders of their future or even the most basic ways of their new family.

We fully intend to teach our kids the life we live and we do, either deliberately or by default. There's no getting away from modeling how we live each day in Christ. Every new family is intent on teaching their kids their ways. That generosity and sacrifice is good grace poured out to kids and new believers. The Ekklesia family of Jesus is no different. We are called to entrust the Way, Truth and Life of Jesus to all who would learn.

The DAY of our birth leads to all kinds of future DAYS in the Way of Christ.

The Day of our salvation leads to all kinds of knowing the Ways of the Lord.
The Day speaks to the Way.
The DAY is not the end. It's the beginning.
And every new day is intended to be filled with the knowledge and spiritual life of the Day of Salvation.

So how is it we do not link the Day of our Salvation with the Way ahead and forward into eternal life?

What are your thoughts on all this?
How do you see it?

Comment.

Share your ideas!

I want to know how you see these things?

Thank you in advance for sharing!

Prayer is the inexhaustible truth.
United Prevailing Prayer is an indispensable weapon.

Get these two foundations in prayer!

How's your 24?
How's your prayer walk?
Sowing into prayer is the greatest avenue for consistent joy in Jesus than any other thing out there.

Take a new step into the depths and riches of knowing Jesus.  Pray.

Start today.  5 mins listening to or reading the Scripture and Psalm 27:14 wait for the Lord.
Grab some time and steal away with Jesus.
He is remarkable to be around.
You will tap into the grace of God.
The Father sent Jesus to restore us to him and he is longing to know us in Christ. (John 17:3)

1. 10 Keys to Praying with Power
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/11/10-keys-to-praying-with-power-moving.html

2. 10 Keys to Sustaining Supernatural Life
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/12/10-keys-to-sustaining-life-in.html

3. Why is the Prayer House Empty?
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/11/why-is-prayer-house-empty-or-is-it.html

4. Intimacy with Jesus Beyond Religion?