"Practically Divine" - Week 1

Stories and experiences ground the idea of the practically divine and offer a way for us to glimpse how we all are practically divine and in the presence of great love (Becca Stevens, page xiv). Mark's stories tell of the practically divine, too. Let's read some more of them.

Read: Mark 2

If you haven’t watched “The Chosen,” I am sorry. I’m sorry, because you’re missing out. But, I’m also sorry, because I won’t be able to get through Mark’s account of Jesus’ life without referring to “The Chosen” regularly. It’s so good, and Jesus calling Matthew (Levi) is one of my favorite scenes.

Levi, the tax collector, would most definitely have been voted “least likely to be a disciple.” He was beyond an underdog. He was hated by many. But, our Jesus is so intentional. He was not and is not swayed by the opinions of man. He valued Matthew, and he personally invited him to join his group of disciples. Next, Jesus loaded up the whole crew and went to eat with Matthew and more of his outcast friends.

I! Love! Jesus! I want to be more like Him. Today, I have a challenge for us. Who are you intentionally forming a relationship with that doesn’t “fit in” to your lifestyle for whatever reason; a different color, a different religion, a different background, a different age group? If we can’t think of anyone, I think we are missing out on the beauty of Jesus’ way. I’d like to challenge us to search for different in relationship.

I told you Matthew’s scene was one of my favorites. Later in the season, Jesus speaks my favorite line. He told the disciples to “get used to different.” Ladies, Jesus’ way is different. If we want to experience Him, the practically divine, in our lives, we must break away from traditions, stereotypes, and ruts.

If we had Becca Stevens with us today, I bet she would tell us that she’s learned more from the women at Thistle Farms than she’s taught them. I imagine she could give an enormous list of blessings she would have missed out on had she not opened a home to care for the marginalized of society. I want to experience those kinds of blessings.

I’d like to share one last thing from the first two chapters of Mark. Have you noticed how often (already) Jesus moved towards the thing or person that was considered “unclean” to society? He didn’t stall. He didn’t flinch. He touched, healed, and restored. According to Levitical law, the Jewish culture had to stay away from anything unclean. It would make them unclean. Jesus flipped the script. He touched the unclean, and it was made clean.

He’s still doing that today! Praise His name!!!

Jesus, we need you! Our brains don’t naturally think inclusively. But, we aren’t talking about natural this summer. We are talking supernatural. Invade our spaces. Bring us into relationships we never imagined. Cause us to value and esteem people for WHO they are, God’s image bearers. Nothing else should matter.