well-aware and able

When I was in New Jersey a few weeks ago, during a rare quiet moment on the couch, the Lord gave me a clear vision and awe for what my life and heart would look like if I spent more dedicated time in the Word.  A calm, faithful, and unconfused life, lived fully dependent and joyfully on Him.

Too clear a vision for me to ignore, or carry on without.  As I've prayed for His help doing so, He's been tapping me on the shoulder throughout my day, pointing me back to that quiet place and helping me meet Him there again through His Word.

Today, that brought me to Matthew 5, which is about as laden with meat as they come.  There's not a lot of squidgy room for luke-warm, half-hearted, split-fencedness in Matthew 5.

It's the first part of Jesus' famous "Sermon on the Mount", which must have just had the whole hillside hushed and hungry.  I know it does me, today.

It hit on every corner of my heart, first with the Be-Attitudes, then with a challenge to be salty salt and brilliant light, then with convicting new definitions of murder and adultery and what to do with anything in our lives and selves that make us stumble.

Heavy good.

Then the descriptive passage we all know of how we are to interact with our fellow-man.

If he slaps your right cheek, give him your left.  If he wants your shirt, give him your jacket, too.  If you're forced to go one mile, go TWO.  If he asks, give.  If he's your enemy, love him like your friend, and pray for him, too.

So now, not only have we been called higher to be peacemakers, to be rejoicingly persecuted, to be pure in heart, merciful and hungry for righteousness, not only drop everything we're doing to forgive and ask forgiveness, not only painfully purge ourselves of anything pulling us away from holiness, but also to be beaten up, naked, exhausted, broke, and praying, to be the crazy people persistently loving those who have wronged us, hurt us, stolen from us, violated our rights, and hated us.  

If you're like me, by the end of this chapter, I'm like, "Lord, it's TOO much.  I mean, I'm just ME.  What!? Am I supposed to be PERFECT?  I mean, this is like JESUS stuff right here!"

And you know what made me laugh and cry out loud as I finished this prayer and turned back to polish off the chapter?  The last verse, Matthew 5:48.

YES, Stacey.  

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

God is well-aware that what His Son laid out clearly in Chapter 5 is asking us to be perfect, asking us to be. like. Jesus.

Beaten-up, naked, exhausted, broke, praying, crazy man persistently loving those who wronged Him, hurt Him, stole from Him, violated His rights, and hated Him JESUS.

He is well-aware.  And asked it of all those men and women and children, sitting quietly in the grass over 2000 years ago.  And is asking it of ME.  TODAY.

I'm pretty sure--and He's confirming--that I'm not anywhere NEAR as naked, bloody, violated, wronged, broke, exhausted and as beaten up as He desires me to be.

Not only is He well-aware of the backwards life He has asked us to live...but He is ABLE.

Love your enemies like this, and pray for those who persecute you, (rejoicing and being glad, vs. 12) in order that you may be sons of your Father (vs. 45).