Miracles

You know how things happen in your life sometimes...things that you can't really explain?  Often times we write it off as coincidence, or lucky, or fortunate, or some other fancy word to leave God out of the equation.  But I've seen a few things already this summer that are too incredible to be a coincidence.  I'd like to share just a couple of those things in this blog post.

We're here in Pawleys Island, SC for the summer, working for LeaderTreks, leading mission trips for Jr. High and High School groups from all across America.  Pretty sweet job right?  Well, we arrived a few days before the first team got here and I went over to check out the house that we would be working on in the community.  As part of all LeaderTreks mission trips, each group does a work project for a decent portion of the day.  So picking a great work project is key to a great summer.  The house that I had selected back in February was a total disaster.  But I hadn't realized how bad it was because I hadn't been able to go inside back in February.  As I entered the house for the first time just a few weeks ago, the odor almost knocked me over.  I thought for sure it was mold, which meant I'd have to find another project very quickly.

I called one of my connections down here, an expert in all things construction, and he came over to take a look at the house.  We walked in, looked through the whole place, and we left.  He didn't want to say anything in front of the home owner, but after we left, he told me that he knew exactly what that smell was.  It wasn't mold.  It was the smell of cockroach infestation and dog feces.  The home was clearly infested with bugs.  Everywhere you looked, bugs were crawling over everything - the furniture, the walls, the floor, even in the fridge.  It was disgusting.  This family had also let their 3 dogs live in the house and use the floor as a bathroom.  The conclusion that my friend arrived at was that, practically speaking, there was nothing we could really do to help this woman.  Nothing could be saved in this house.  He suggested that we just build a deck for her and find another project, somewhere else in the community.

I left there feeling very discouraged and conflicted and was about 95% sure that I would have to tell this woman that we were not going to be able to really help her.  But then I began to pray about it.  As I did, I began to have clarity.  My job is to develop students as leaders and as disciples of Christ.  Would it be better for them to just build a deck and do some other random work in the community, or would it be better to let them see the conditions in which someone in desperate need was living?  Which would provide the better environment for leadership development and discipleship?  Which would demonstrate my faith in an Almighty God more clearly?  I felt like the Lord was wanting me to step out and take a risk on this house, so I decided to go for it.

That first week, the Lord responded emphatically.  On Monday, a guy drove by the house who worked for "Marshall Pest Control."  He just happened to be driving by and asked if we might need the house to be sprayed for bugs.  Ha.  I told him I wasn't sure if they had enough spray in stock for this house.  They've sprayed the house twice, dusted it twice, put chemical food out once and still, there are bugs.  Kind of impressive right?

On Tuesday, we were in the middle of demolition, and a couple of the students ripped the sink out.  As they did so, water went spraying everywhere.  I came over and turned the water off underneath the sink, but that wasn't working really well and some water was still coming out.  I had to find the main shutoff valve to the house, and I needed to find it quickly.  I started looking all over the place, but couldn't find it anywhere.  Eventually, I called the homeowner and she told me it was out by the street, in her neighbors yard.  I went over and started looking for it.  I found the water meter, and saw that there was a valve that could be turned, but I couldn't turn it.  I called for Taylor (our intern) to run and get me a hammer to see if I could hit it to get it started.  As she was gone, I sat there on my knees on the side of the road, hoping and praying that this would work.  Just then, a man drove by in a truck.  Not just any truck.  It was the official, "City of Pawleys Island Water and Sewer" truck.  He stopped, rolled down his window and said, "Are you looking for the main shutoff valve to that house over there?"  I'm not sure what look I had on my face, but I'm pretty sure my mouth was open.  Dumbfounded, I said, "Yes...as a matter of fact that's exactly what I'm looking for!"  He jumped out of his truck, came over, dug around for a few seconds, found another hole in the ground that had the shutoff valve, turned it off, jumped back in his truck and took off.  It took him about 30 seconds.  I NEVER would have found it.  I probably would have done something really bad in fact, by hitting that other valve with a hammer.

This was not a coincidence.  No.  This was the Lord sending someone at the exact moment when I needed help.  It was an affirmation from Him, yet again, that He has my back.  He's looking out for me and cares for me.  This was a miracle that I got to be a part of.  Incredible.

Other things happened that week that were clearly the Lord, but one other thing that I thought was especially incredible was that this house needed a roof really badly.  However, LeaderTreks no longer puts teams on top of houses due to liability issues.  So I had no idea how this roof was going to get done.  But I trusted that the Lord would provide in some way for that as well.  Sure enough, word got out about what we were doing, and people wanted to help.  During the second week of the summer, different groups of people came every day to help replace this roof.  We had several professional contractors, professional roofers, and others who had zero experience, but who wanted to help.  The roof still needs to be finished (and as I listen to the thunder storm outside right now, I'm tempted to worry a little bit), but I have no doubt that it will get done very soon.  I never would have dreamt of such an overwhelming response from the people in the community (both the white and black community).  But again, that's the Lord providing for the needs of His people.  Awesome!

This past week, we were able to finish demolition and begin the rebuilding process.  There's an incredible amount to do and I truly believe it will be a miracle if the house gets finished.  But we serve a  God of miracles and He loves to reveal Himself to us and bring glory to His name.  Week 4 has begun already, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for us this week.  There is no adventure like following Jesus!   

What's Wrong With Being a Christian?

There's a trend happening in our world today.  More and more Christians are not wanting to identify themselves as Christians.  They don't want to say they're a part of the church.  They don't want to be associated with the exclusivity of the gospel.

"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." 

- 1 John 3:13

They think that Christians are closed minded, naive, intolerant and old fashioned.  I've even heard people say that Christianity is a dying religion and that it must adapt to stay alive in today's world.

What?!

Now, understand me when I say, I have nothing wrong with the phrase, "I'm a follower of Jesus."  I just hate that the term "Christian" is so loaded in people's minds.  It's arrived at the point where people who would say they are followers of Jesus, don't want to also say that they are Christians.  But that's exactly what the word "Christian" means: follower of Christ!  Is it because we don't want to associate ourselves with certain people?  Is it because we're afraid that the world will think we're crazy?  I don't know all the reasons, but I think at the core of it is a desire to live for ourselves.  I think that too many people believe that Christianity is about being comfortable.  Jesus died for ME so I must be really important.  We put ourselves at the center of the gospel and value ourselves higher than we do our Savior.  But friends, we are not at the center of the gospel! John Piper once said it like this:

"Before you ever came on this scene, before this universe ever existed, God was holy, infinitely valuable, incomparable, absolutely unique.  And He knew it.  And He loved it.  And He treasured it, because He's wise and righteous.  And a righteous person always values what is most valuable.  Therefore before you ever came on the scene, God valued God above all things.  He saw the perfections of Himself, shining out of His own infinitely glorious divine Son, and He loved His Son, and the Son loved the Father, and the Holy Spirit powerfully, personally radiated between the Father and the Son.  Before you were ever on the scene, there was a 'gladsomness' in reality.  And then you came on the scene, and I'll tell you something...nothing changed!  God did not suddenly become an idolater when He created man, putting man where God belongs.  God is not a man worshiper.  God is a God worshiper - or would you deny Him the highest joys of the universe?"  

Maybe the problem with some people in the church today is that they haven't realized this.  Maybe they think that their lives are all about themselves.  Maybe they think God is a man-centered God.  Maybe they need to be reminded that our God is holy and that their lives need to be lived in total submission to Him.  Maybe if we became less self-seeking and sought after God with all our energy, we would stop looking at the flaws of our brothers and sisters and see the wonders of the glory of Christ and desire to identify with His people - the church - Christians.  I'm not afraid to do it.  I'm a Christian.  I don't care what image that puts in people's minds.  Because I'm going to try and live as much like Jesus as possible and at the end of the day,

I don't answer to people.  I answer to God.  

It's time that we, as true followers of Christ, boldly proclaim that we're Christians.  And as we live for Him, maybe the world will get a different picture in their minds of what Christians are.  Maybe the term "Christian" will once again mean one thing when it is spoken in this world.  And that one thing will be: "followers of Christ."

Colombia Story (Email 3 of 3)

I sent this email out on Monday, April 1st to our friends and family.  I was encouraged by several people to blog this email and the other 2.  I hope you enjoy reading about what's happened in our lives over the past month.

It's hard to try and describe the range of emotions that Lauren and I have gone through over the past few weeks.  We've had some incredible ups and downs, intermixed with just waiting to see the Lord answer our prayers.  Waiting is tough.  We pray in faith, believing that God will answer.  But there's still that feeling in your stomach, that tiny bit of doubt that creeps in, that thought in your head that says, "be realistic...you're asking for too much."  And this morning, about an hour ago, the Lord again answered our (and your) prayers.  Lauren's Passport finally arrived!  Thank you so much to all of you who have prayed for this.  We truly see this as a miracle.  

For those of you who don't know the story, Lauren needed to replace her damaged Passport (Riley chewed it up about 2 years ago) and Lincoln needed a new one.  So she sent everything in (including her damaged passport), a few weeks ago, hoping that we would get new Passports really quickly.  Lincoln's came on Tuesday (the 26th).  Lauren received an email on Wednesday (the 27th), from the Passport place, stating that they needed Lauren's damaged Passport.  There was no number she could call to tell them that she had sent it already, and there was no way to reply to that email.  The only way to get in contact with these people was to send a letter, stating that she had sent the damaged Passport.  (On a side-note, isn't our government awesome?!  Utterly ridiculous that that's the only way to get in contact with them).  So Lauren over-nighted a letter on Wednesday.  We assume that they received it on Thursday, but we weren't sure what would happen with the holiday weekend, and it still generally takes 2-3 weeks to process and receive passports, even when expedited.  And so we waited and prayed...waited and prayed...waited and prayed.  We went back and forth on whether or not to change Lauren's flight to a later date.  We decided to not touch her flight and just trust the Lord.  And we are glad that we did.  

I was watching the first part of that Bible series from the History channel on Youtube last night, and was encouraged by the stories of Noah, Abraham and Moses - men who simply trusted God and lived their lives in such a way that demonstrated that trust/faith in Him.  I was reading in Hebrews 11 this morning and again was reminded of those who have gone before us, who lived lives full of faith.  That passage says that these were people "of whom the world was not worthy."  Simply because they had faith.  They trusted God and His promises.  In the gospels, the only time that Jesus is ever amazed is when he sees that someone has a large amount of faith (Matthew 8:10), and when he sees an incredible lack of faith (Mark 6:6).  We want to be in that first category and experiences such as this continue to grow our faith in Him.  

Our flight leaves for Colombia tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon.  We'll both be on it (with Lincoln).  Annie will be with my sister's family.  Our finances have been taken care of.  What a joy it is to follow Christ!  There's no adventure that compares in this life!  

As we travel, we have a few remaining prayer requests for our time there:

-That the Lord would use me as I speak 4 times to a group of 43 students and 7 teachers.  The theme I'm speaking on is "Radical Obedience."

-That the Lord would make it very clear whether or not He wants us in Colombia long term.

-If He does want us there long term, that He would provide a great housing situation for us.

-Safety.  

Thank you so much for your prayers and/or financial support.  We can't wait to let you know how this trip goes!

Colombia Story (Email 2 of 3)

I sent this email out on Friday, March 15th to our friends and family.  I was encouraged by several people to blog this email and the other 2.  I hope you enjoy reading about what's happened in our lives over the past month.

What a week this has been!  Lauren and I were talking this morning, and we decided that one of the coolest things we've taken away from this week, is that we've realized that so many people are for us - cheering for us, praying for us, providing for us, sacrificing for us.  It's been so cool to get phone call after phone call and email after email, from our friends and family, letting us know that they want to help.  Thank you so much for helping us raise the money that we need, to go visit the place where we will, Lord willing, spend the next several years of our lives.  

We reached our goal yesterday evening and still, people continued to email and call, asking if they could give in the "last hour," this morning.  What a blessing!   In total, we've received $2350 in given or pledged money!  Thank you so much to all of you who gave and prayed for us during this time.  We are so grateful.  For those of you who were waiting for this email to send in your money, please feel free to do so now!  We'll be buying the plane tickets this afternoon/evening and we're already in the process with the Passports.  If you wanted to give but didn't get around to it, please feel free to save that money for later.  If we move to Colombia in September, we'll most likely need to do this all over again and would greatly appreciate your donations at that time!  If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call or email us.  We'd love to talk!

There are so many stories I could tell from this week that encouraged our faith in huge ways.  But I wanted to share one in particular that we thought was especially cool.  

We made the decision yesterday, that we were not going to take Annie with us for this short week in April.  A number of reasons went into that decision, but we felt like it was the wisest decision we could make, taking all things into account.  We were planning on letting her stay with my Mom (Annie's "Nana") and Dad during that time.  I was talking with my Mom yesterday afternoon though, and she told me that she was actually going to be in North Carolina for her Mom's birthday - she'd bought the tickets several weeks ago before we even knew of this opportunity in Colombia, and it was going to be for almost the exact dates we'd be gone.  For the rest of the day yesterday, we were trying to think of people who could possibly watch Annie for a day or two at a time.  I called my sister that evening to see if she'd be willing to help out a little bit, and she said she thought she could help out for a few days, but that their schedule is, very understandably, (with 5 kids) busy.  Last night, as Lauren and I were praying before going to sleep, I prayed very specifically, that a situation would present itself where Annie could stay with the same people for the entire time and that it would be a perfect fit for Annie, where she would have a ton of fun with people she already knew, and that we would feel very confident in sending her into that situation.  We finished praying, and literally, 1 or 2 minutes later, I got a text from my sister which said, "I was looking at my calendar, and seriously...Annie can stay with us from Tuesday (or even Monday night) until the weekend, we could even keep her the whole time!!!"  

Wow.  Thank you Lord!  What a joy it is to know that there are so many people who are for us.  But how much greater it is to know that our heavenly Father is for us, leading and directing us every step of the way.  We can't wait to see what He has planned for us in Colombia.

"What then shall we say to these things?"

Thank you so much for everything!  We'll be sure to keep you updated as things happen. 

For Him,

Robbie and Lauren

Colombia Story (Email 1 of 3)

I sent this email out on Monday, March 11th to our friends and family.  I was encouraged by several people to blog this email and the following ones.  I hope you enjoy reading about what's happened in our lives over the past month.

As you probably well know, Lauren and I have been trying to figure out what we'll be doing in September for quite a while now.  My 2 year commitment at LeaderTreks ends in August and we need to make a decision very soon regarding whether or not we'll stay here for another year.  We've been praying and seeking guidance from lots of people, filling out applications for several different International Christian Schools and looking for jobs in the Wheaton area as well.  

Last week however, we received an email from the father of one of the girls that used to work at LeaderTreks with me.  He is the principal at El Camino Academy (ECA) in Bogota, Colombia.  We Skyped with them on Saturday and they really want us to come work there.  He would like me to fill the role of chaplain at the school, which is actually a position that they've been wanting to create for a while, but they just haven't had the right person to fill it.  This role would involve discipleship, teaching, leadership development and the implementation of a new discipleship program that I would create.  He has a vision for the teachers to all disciple one student and for the high school students to disciple middle school students, and for it to be an environment where real discipleship and growth takes place.  It sounds like the faculty and staff at this school are dreamers, which Lauren and I really love.  We don't ever want to stop dreaming about how God can use us!  This opportunity is something that has us very excited!  We would love to do this!  

They have invited Lauren and I (and Annie and Lincoln) to come down to visit at the beginning of April.  I would be teaching at a Middle School retreat for 2 days (3 sessions) and we would also have a few days to check out some places where most of the teachers live, look for possible housing, and just get a feel for what it would be like to live there.  

We have not made a decision yet about whether or not we will go in April, but it makes sense to take a "vision trip" to check things out and seek out confirmation from the Lord during our time there.  We need to make our decision and let them know about the April trip by this Friday (the 15th).  One huge obstacle is the cost.  The school can't pay for us to come down and flights are around $800/ticket, plus we would need to get Passports for Lauren and the kids (which we know we could get in 14 days or less).  The total cost would be a little over $2000.  

As we've been praying about this trip and seeking the Lord's will in the matter, I've had my doubts about whether or not we should go.  It seems like a lot of money to spend, just to go for a few days.  On the other hand, it would be extremely helpful for us to be able to do this.  Then, this morning I was reading in 2 Kings 4:1-7.  A woman loses her husband and the creditor is coming to take her 2 children to be his slaves.  She has nothing in her home but a jar of oil.  She brings the problem before Elisha and he instructs the woman to go to all her neighbors and borrow empty vessels from them.  She then begins to take the jar of oil that she has and fill all the empty vessels - a miracle from the Lord.  She was then able to sell the oil, pay off her debts and live with her children on the rest.  As I was thinking about this woman, going door to door and asking all her neighbors for these empty vessels, I wondered what the neighbors were thinking as they gave or lent these vessels to her.  I wonder because I often wonder what people think of me when I come before them with a need, asking them to help meet that need.  We don't know what her neighbors thought, but regardless, she had the faith to go and ask.  I feel that God is asking us to do a similar thing.    

While Lauren and I aren't worried about our children getting taken into slavery, we do have a need that I feel God wants us to bring before our neighbors, friends and family.  Many of you are monthly supporters of us already, and for that, we are so thankful!  We have tried to be faithful stewards of those gifts that have met our monthly needs to this day.  Our request now is that you would help us get to Colombia in April, so that we can see the place where (we hope) we will be serving for the next several years.  Would you be willing to give a special gift for this?  If so, you can make checks payable to LeaderTreks (for tax deduction purposes) or you could make them out to one (or both) of us.

Again, we need to give a response by Friday afternoon regarding whether or not we will come.  We will evaluate our financial situation Friday after the mail comes.  Thank you so much for your prayers and gifts ahead of time.  Lauren and I are so thankful for you all.  

For Him,

              

Robbie (and Lauren)

Love God With All Your Heart

So here's what I want to do with this.  Psalm 1 talks about the blessed man, that:

"His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."  

That word "meditates" (according to the ESV Study Bible), describes "an active pondering, perhaps even muttering to oneself in pursuit of insight."  So I want to actively ponder the 2 commands on which the entire law hangs, and specifically, today, what it means to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart."

Now, the heart is a hollow muscle that pumps blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions.  The heart is what keeps us alive.

As long as the heart is pumping, there is life.  

So to love the Lord your God with all your heart, means to love him with the very thing that keeps me alive.  And as I think about the muscle that keeps me alive, I think of how God is in fact, the one who sustains my life, the one who knows the number of my days, the one who formed my heart and gave me life and the one who will one day cause my heart to stop beating.  So to love God with my actual physical heart, is to remember that God is the giver and taker of life.  But there is more to this.

What does the rest of the Bible say about our heart?

In 1 Samuel 16:7, Samuel is getting ready to anoint the new king of Israel.  He's with this family and there are several young men who look the part, but one in particular.  His name was Eliab.  Samuel sees these young men, but when he looked at Eliab, Samuel thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him."  Eliab was the oldest, and probably the biggest and the most mature looking of the bunch.  If a king had to be picked from this group, Samuel figured:

It would be this guy for sure.  

But God had a very interesting word for Samuel at that moment.  God told Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him."  Why?  Why reject a guy that totally looked the part?  Here's why:

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."  

Huh.  The heart.  His hollow muscle didn't pump blood rhythmically enough?

Did Eliab just have really high cholesterol?

What was it about Eliab's heart that God didn't like?  I'll come back to that.

Let's take a quick look at some other verses and see what we can learn about the heart.  These are just a selected few.  If you don't want to read all these, you can just skip to the bottom where I summarize:

Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 119:11 - "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Proverbs 27:19 - "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man."
Isaiah 57:15 - "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite."
Jeremiah 17:9-10 - "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"
Ezekiel 36:26 - God says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.  And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a new heart of flesh."
Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Acts 2:37 - Now when they heard this (the gospel) they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
 1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.  Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Revelation 2:23 - "And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works."

So, back to Eliab and to wrap all this up.  Eliab was rejected because he didn't have the heart that God wanted.  He didn't love the Lord his God with his life.  There were other things more important in life than God for Eliab.  His confidence and identity were not in God.  How do I know this?  Because of 2 other passages.  The first is 1 Samuel 13:13-14.  Saul was king of Israel and he did not keep the command of God.  So Samuel comes up to him and says to Saul,

"You have done foolishly.  You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you.  For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.  But now your kingdom shall not continue.  The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."  

The Lord rejects Saul for the same reason he rejects Eliab.  He wants a man after His own heart and that wasn't Eliab!  Look at Psalm 119:11 above.  A man after God's own heart strongly desires not to sin against God, and so he stores up the word of God in his heart.  Sin is a big deal to God.  And sin begins in the heart.

One more passage.  Right before the battle of David and Goliath.  David comes to the battle line and hears Goliath taunt and defy Israel.  David asks what will be done for the man who kills Goliath.  This is where we pick up:  

"Now Eliab [David's] eldest brother heard when [David] spoke to the men.  And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, 'Why have you come down?  And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.'" 

Eliab was a chump.  He lacked courage and conviction.  He accused the heart of his little brother, who was a man after God's own heart.  David loved the Lord his God with all his heart.  Saul and Eliab did not.  

So what does it mean to love the Lord your God with all your heart?   

It means that we need to delight ourselves in God, memorize His Word and remain pure.  The thing that keeps us physically alive is our heart, sustained by God.  The things that keeps us spiritually alive is our relationship with the one who gave us life...God.  So to love God with all your heart means to center your life on Him, place your confidence in Him, find your courage in Him, and know that He is in fact, your Lord, and your God.  He gives the orders in your life, and you follow those orders, no matter the cost.  Loving God with all your heart means that your life on this earth is totally His, and that you will do whatever He asks of you.  You delight in Him, and so it brings you great pleasure to do whatever he asks.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart.  

Jesus, the Scribe, and Our Frustrated Exhaustion

Have you ever been at that place in life where you feel tired, discouraged, uncertain of what the future holds, struggling to go forward with joy, mercy and love as your characterizing attributes?

I've been there

What I notice about those moments or seasons of life, is that there's always a reason.  I can try and re-charge my batteries in numerous ways.

As an introvert, I think that I just need some time alone to get that zeal for life back.
As an athlete, I think that I just need to exercise a little bit to get my energy up.
As a music lover, I  think that I need to play my guitar to get the creative juices flowing.
As a husband, I think that I need to spend some quality time alone with my wife.
As a father, I think that I need to spend some quality time with my kids to have fun just being silly.

On and on it goes...

But what I always tend to forget is that none of those things are my most important identity.  None of those things are the reason I was created.  None of those things will truly help unless I am seeking one thing in the midst of them.  

...

There's this passage in the Bible that is really fascinating.  Jesus is in the midst of these religious elitists (the Sadducees), speaking truth and making them look silly for holding the beliefs which they held.

Funny how Jesus never apologized for speaking offensive truth

As he's talking with these guys, a scholar or expert in the law (a scribe) overhears Jesus' conversation with them.  He hears how Jesus responds to them, and sees that Jesus "answered them well."  

He's come to this moment prepared with 1 question

Perhaps he wanted to see just how solid Jesus was. 

Maybe he wanted to show people that Jesus didn't know what he was talking about.

Maybe he had seen the attention that Jesus was getting and wanted to come flaunt his intellectual superiority. 

Nobody knows why

We don't know why this scholar did what he did, but he asks Jesus a question that, had this happened in today's age, would have been posted all over Facebook, tweeted and re-tweeted, been on the news, etc.  This was a BIG DEAL!  This guy stands toe to toe with Jesus, and asks him, 

"Which commandment is the most important of all?" 

I picture the surrounding area to come to a halt.  People stopped their side conversations.  Children that had been playing were immediately hushed.  Whatever had been going on that seemed important before, suddenly didn't seem important at all.  Everyone knew that the words which were about to be spoken would be worth telling and re-telling.  "The most important commandment of all?"  "Is he allowed to ask that?"  Is he allowed to answer that?"  "Is there a right answer?"

Jesus didn't hesitate

Speaking with confidence that made onlookers wonder if Jesus had written the commandments in the first place, Jesus answered with these words: 

"The most important is, 'Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no other commandment greater than these."

Wow

It sounds pretty straight forward right?  But what in the world does it mean to love God with your heart and with your soul?  What's the difference between our heart and soul?  And how do you love God with your mind and strength?  And what does he mean by ALL of these things?  He doesn't literally mean ALL does he?  This is just allegorical teaching right?  Oh, and how did the scribe respond?  Here's how:

"You are right, Teacher.  You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him.  And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

The scribe approves of Jesus' answer.  And from the outside perspective, it seems as though the scribe has the upper hand.  He approved of Jesus' answer.  Like Jesus is the young pup and the scribe is the old dog.  There's this sense that the scribe is somehow trying to keep the upper hand.  But Jesus is the King.  Jesus is the Lord.  Jesus is God.

Jesus has the final word

Jesus sees that the scribe answered wisely and said to him,

"You are not far from the kingdom of God."

Jesus clearly saw some potential in this guy.  But then the writer of this story adds this little sentence at the end.  A little note to let all us readers in on what the feel in the room was, what resulted from this conversation, how people saw Jesus differently.  I love this little sentence.  We see the confidence and authority with which Jesus spoke in these words recorded by the narrator:

And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The thought of challenging Jesus on any matter terrified everyone.  Jesus had ultimate authority, ultimate confidence, ultimate knowledge.  He even knew where people stood spiritually.  It was as if he knew the hearts, souls, minds and strength of people just by looking at them.  Wow.

Jesus was more than just a great teacher

...

So to tie this back into the exhausting, frustrating, discouraging moments of life, I wonder if this has anything to do with that?  Is Jesus telling us, loud and clear, what's lacking in our lives during those moments or seasons?  Is Jesus explaining why our efforts to refresh ourselves without him have been in vain? 

I think he is

In the following days, I'm going to dive into the 2 greatest commandments that Jesus mentions.  I want to find out what Jesus means when he tells us to love in this way.  I think there's a lot there that we're missing.  

I hope you take the ride with me and dive into these words of God with great expectation.