1 John 2: the journey is nothing new

The two most diffucult things to get straight in life are love and God. More often than not, the mess people make of their lives can be traced to failure or stupidity or meanness in one or both areas. The basic and biblical Christian conviction is that the two subjects are intricately related. If we want to deal with God the right way, we have to learn to love the right way. If we want to love the right way, we have to deal with God the right way. God and love can't be separated.
FROM THE MESSAGE REMIX INTRODUCTION OF 1, 2 & 3 JOHN

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the Challenge of this lenten journey (and of the living the 'Christian' life) is found in vs 6 of chapter 2: Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

i have always loved that verse. The NIV translation says it this way:

Walk Like Jesus.

Live the same life that Jesus lived. That is what it means to be a 'Christian'.... a follower of 'The Way'. [early church leaders were refered to as followers of 'The Way' see: Acts 9:2 , Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23, Acts 22:4, Acts 24:14, Acts 24:22]

verse 7-8 goes on to say: this message is nothing new. What is new is that it is in Christ + it is in you. it is the Message. it is the Word. it is Gospel (good news). it is Truth. it is Light.

almost a year ago i was in a planning meeting for a summer youth camp that i was involved with... a queston was asked: "what concrete examples can we give them (the campers) to help them keep the fire alive?"

i responded: "we teach them to follow Christ." but what does follow Chist mean to a person who has not grown up in church - has not cracked open a Bible - has little or no knowledge of Jesus, God, the Bible or the like? i was challenged. after some time and thought - here was my response - right or wrong...

the 1st step in FOLLOWING CHRIST or MODELLING CHRIST is to study the example in the Word and in return, strive to live it out so that ACTIONS + WORDS are consistent.

How do you do that? 2 things come to mind:

>LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE. Matthew 22:36-40
> BE REAL. with yourself, your friends & with God

that is all that is asked of us. When we can love God/Love People + Be real with ourselves, others + God, the rest falls into place.

this part of the journey is nothing new. but the outward expression of this part of the journey is fresh each day it is lived out.