(Working Backwards To Understand)

Let’s
1) Study the end of the Bible, then
2) Go back to Jesus’ first sermon, and then
3) Farther back yet to the book of Psalms
4) To learn a critically important idea.

 

1. The Last Page of the Bible

Revelation 22 has some strange advice.

---

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

(NASB, Rev. 22:10-12).

---

• Do not try to change others. Work on your own stuff.
• You only have a few years. Make them count.
• You will be significantly rewarded for getting it right.

---

2. Jesus’ First Sermon

---

• Jesus packages the first part of His speech with a repeating phrase. This was a common writing style
• If you do the first part, you can expect the second part.
• Your people will resist change. That’s ok. That is normal.
• Keep learning to be the right person and win big time.
• Expect a counter-intuitive bubbling joy at the strangest times. This, too, is the new normal.
• I am looking for resilient servant leaders through whom I can bless the world.

 

---

3. Psalms

“The book of Psalms is a collection of poems that are intentionally arranged to tell God’s story.” Tim Mackie.

---

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
(NASB, Psalm 1:2-3).

---

• Psalm 1 starts with a Garden of Eden story.
• The person who ponders the scriptures day and night become a Tree of Life to those around them.
• Psalm 149 saw God’s people in the Kingdom of God.

---

---

• Thrill at God’s presence.
• Talk about God’s excellence.
• Your attitude is important.

---

4. Practically Speaking…

Are you tracking with me so far?

A. Rev. 22 – We change systems by changing ourselves.
B. Matt. 5 – The meek will inherit the earth?
C. Psalms 1 – We are like Trees of Life? Psalm 149 – We win by Delighting in God in all circumstances?
D. How does this work?

 

Some Ideas

Anxiety is a great thing because it helps us know where to start working on our issues.
Note: For anxious people who feel overpowered, I advise professional help.

For the rest of us,
I advise paying attention to what you do when you feel anxious.
Then wait for the next time and act differently.
Do not tell people around you what you are doing.
Just react differently.
It will feel so strange.
It will take courage.
It will take the Holy Spirit’s help.
Change is almost impossibly hard.
Sometimes it takes pain to motivate us.
Change is so awkward and uncomfortable.
Persist. It gets easier.
God is cheering you on!
Like a parent watching their child take their first steps.

Your people, on the other hand, will wonder what is wrong.
It’s predictable.
“You can’t do that.”
“If you do that, you can’t be us.”
Keep prayerfully persisting, humbly, courageously, and obediently.
You will sense God’s presence radiating from you.
Finally, your people may say,
“I am so glad you persisted. This new us is way better.”

And this is God. He is with you and He is at the finish line with a significant reward.

The above chart contains examples of an opposite response to anxious coping.
It is not a formula because humans are way too complex for formulas.
God is on your side! He wants you to pass, and will patiently give you more chances.
Spend enough time with God each morning to get ideas about how to proceed.
You might think, “I could never do or say that to so-and-so.” 
Or maybe you need to sit calmly, listen to another perspective, and truly hear someone.
The Christian life, when you are fully engaged, gets exciting.
Jesus calls it “An Abundant Life.”

Your thoughts?