duty ? ...

in a blog i read recently
a brother posits that faith 'demands'
grace 'demands'
discipleship 'demands'
the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus 'demands'

and he's right
... in a way

but ...
can we look at it another way  ? ?...

what God has done for us
is incredible
out of this world

his incarnation
his learning life as a man
his life example
his theology
his counter-religiosity
his submission to death
   even death on a cross
his resurrection from rhe grave
and his current ministry
   of encouragement by the Spirit
   of representing his disciples
      in the face of the opposers' accusations
...
these are wonderful
and we scarcely can fathom their wealth

but ...
does that mean we should see it all
as amounting to
making 'demands' of us ? ?

should it not be
that the cost of discipleship
should not be seen so much as
a cost
a required response
but as a
willing
offering

to that God
who
did
all
that
?

i know we are human
i am one
i understand suffering
   at least to some degree
and i know it hurts
sometimes it hurts like hell ...

i understand the contrast the author is attempting to make
to the love of God we treat so cheaply
living as if it all didn't really mean that much
because we don't live like
it means much

i got that
but ...

i also get that
more than 'demand'
that love
engenders
response
loving response
response out of love
= sacrifice
willingly
as in Romans 12

My 'reasonable response'
is to
offer
my self
to that God
in life
for life
for his life
in exchange
for my life
... all of it
wholeheaetedly
passionately
with all my heart
all my mind
all my soul
all my strength ...

sorta like as in the 'shema'

when that positivity
   that attitude
drives my lifestyle
   regardless of my repeated failures
then
am I
his disciple

there is the concept of 'demand'
but ...
methinks the lure of love
is so much more
magnetic

the comeback to that could well be
"utopian !"
"idealistic !"

my response ...
Jesus said
be perfect
even as your father in heaven is perfect

that's the goal

and Jesus respects goals
   attitudes
   vision
   desire
   ... love

...

shalom