Men's Monday Message: Go Deeper

Good morning brothers in Christ

​It's been a week since returning from a men's retreat where the theme was "Deeper", meaning "to go deeper with God". 

And I must say the experience has stayed with me.

It is like going to the doctor with a recurring pain and receiving something that will cover, hide or subdue the plan only to have it return. A good doctor understands that he will need to run some tests to look "a little deeper."

To determine the cause, not just the symptom.  

Ever feel our walk with God is more like walking in circles, than advancing in God's kingdom? That I keep dealing with symptoms, habits, recurring behavior issues and never the underlying cause?

(Good, I thought it was just me.)

I pause and offer 2 Scripture verses that, I believe, are examples of Jesus wanting us to "go deeper".

John 17:3... "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent".

Odd response from Jesus when asked to define eternal life.

Nothing about going to heaven or being with God forever.

Another such Scripture is found in John 18:37 where Jesus states why He was born, why He came into the world. "... In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth...."

Another Odd response.

Most of us would say He came into the world to... 

"save the world". John 3:17 and John 12:47.

or... to "save sinners" 1Tim 1:15.

or ... to "forgive sins".... referred to in all the Gospels.

or as He states that He is the fulfillment of that from the prophet Isaiah ...   

“... to proclaim good news to the poor.

... to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

... recovery of sight for the blind,

.... to set the oppressed free,

... to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”.... as He states in Luke 4

or

to "fulfill the Law"....  Mat 5:17   

Yes, He came for all these reasons, but perhaps these are the symptoms more than the cause.

Perhaps we have been conformed to the patterns of this world and need to be transformed by renewing our minds (Rom 12:2) so that we can live in the truth Christ brings... the true knowing of our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, and the Lord Jesus.

To no longer live the lives the world, our culture and the enemy of souls brings, but in the ways of truth.

In other words, stop living in the lies we have always believed and come into the light... the truth.

To testify of the truth, to testify of anything, one must be an actual witness.

Thus, I offer that Jesus must have been there when "truth" was established...

Actually, as He says, He is the Way, Truth and Life.

Starts with knowing God.

If I Know God... I will Trust God, Love God, Obey God, Abide with God, be His Disciple, Come into the Truth.... and the Truth (Jesus) will set me Free. (what we call Spiritual Physics).

Think about it!

Honor and Glory, but Only for His Glory,

Dennis Labriola

Author of Seventh-Inning Stretch: Reflection on the Game of Life

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