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Show Notes

Last time we spoke of God not being dysfunctional and by the end of the discussion, we noted that we were mainly addressing those who call themselves Christian. How does God respecting our choices apply to Christian peoples? That is what we are going to explore here in episode12.

My name is Charles, and this is the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. A podcast for those who want a deeper faith, not a confusing one. That is what our name is about, keeping faith in Christ simple enough for a child like me to understand it and yet, not so shallow that when the storms of life hit, our faith runs aground. Here we go.

As we begin, it is important to remember that first and foremost, we are all human beings. Folks who are prone to be hard-headed and more than a little self-centered. Entering into a relationship with God does change things, but somethings still require a tenacious desire to allow the love of God to have its way in us, or we will once again fall into behavior from which we thought to be cured. Paul said it well when he said, “But I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27). That he could still be disqualified indicates that he still had choices to make.

Jesus taught us to pray and to ask for our daily bread (Luke 11:3). Often, we think of this as referring to our daily physical needs. And that is definitely one aspect of daily bread. Yet, here is a thought, what if he is speaking about our spiritual needs. This phrase lies in-between asking for God’s kingdom to come and forgiving us of our sins. It seems strange to say, “God, your will be done, feed me, and forgive me.” It makes more sense if we see 'our daily bread' as spiritual need; “God, your will be done, supply us with what we need to do our part, and forgive us.” Also, in light of Jesus’ response to Satan, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). And what he said to the disciples, “I have food to eat that you do not know about…. My food is to do the will of Him how sent me. (John 4:32-34). And again, “My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven…. And gives life to the world” (John 6:32, 33). Reading of ‘our daily bread’ as a spiritual need makes a good deal of sense.

Is this not intriguing? Asking our Father to give us daily what we need to be spiritual, to be holy, to be “one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me” (John 17:21). It is a daily choice, a daily prayer. We must choose each day to love.

And God will not force us to love him, to seek this daily need. Examples abound in the Bible, Joshua in making the alliance with the Hivites without looking to God for his provision (Joshua 9:14). David did not seek his daily portion before looking at Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). Jonah did not seek it before running from God’s mission to Nineveh (Jonah 1). Peter did not partake when he held himself aloof from the Gentiles in Galatia (Galatians 2:11-13). And the list goes on and on.

Examples also abound of things that will require this daily need to be met. Examples include: to “be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9); to “bear all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12); to “let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12); Or, to “beware, lest being carried away… you fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). And again, the list goes on and on and on. There is much we must do and we need to choose to ask God each day for what we need.

For all these great tasks we need our daily bread. We need to have our spiritual needs met. We need the love of God as never before. I have mentioned John 15 in several previous episodes. And we discussed what abiding in Christ means and how love is the fulfillment of the law. As such, it is our great need and we must ask for God to meet it daily. Not that we need to ask God to love us, but that he would provide what we need, not want but need, to learn to love; to help us stay abiding in him. That… Jesus' prayer would find fulfillment and we become “one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you…” (John 17:21). The result would be that His kingdom then comes on earth as it already is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

This post is already getting long, but I would be remiss if I did not mention a negative component involved in our ability to choose, and in God respecting our choices. As mentioned last time, God respects our choice too much to force on us what is best for us; to force on us a vital relationship with himself. If we choose not to ask for this daily sustenance, he will not make us do so. However, if we choose not to love… well, Jesus graciously gives us warnings as to where that choice will lead. Matthew 7; 25 and Luke 13 (Matthew 7:15-23; 25:41-46; and Luke 13:24-30), all bespeak a dire warning for those who wish to claim the name but stay out of the game. These passages speak of those who do religion well, but who do not love; simply put, of those who do not abide in Christ. These passages speak of a time of judgment and those who have chosen not to love are told to depart from God’s presence as he knows them not.

How sad, to dedicate yourself to learning things and doing things, but never learning to relate to God. Never learning to abide in the love of Christ; not learning to love. “The one who does not love does not know God” (1 John 4:8).

Do you see now how choosing to love applies to those calling themselves Christian as much as to those who do not? It does so because it applies to every human being. And every individual is, after all, merely human.

Well, what do you think? I’d love to hear from you, so please, go to simplenotshallow.com, and under the Simple Not Shallow Podcast section, find this episode, #12, and leave a comment for me there. Also, in the show notes, I’ll list all the verses I referenced, in the order and at the location in the transcript at which I referenced them. That way you can check me out to make sure I’m not totally in left field.  Also, please take a second to rate this episode and subscribe to this podcast through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify… or whichever service you use. Thank you. I’ll catch you next time.