Have To or Want To?

³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Biblical scholar, Marcus Borg, says, 

"You can keep the commandments and still be a jerk. But you cannot be in relationship with the living God, without being continually transformed."

It's the relationship that changes us, not the laws.  It's the same with having a relationship with one another.  It's not so hard to dislike a group based on their ethnicity, education, etc.  But when you have a relationship with one person from any of those groups, you begin to rethink your opinions.


A relationship with God helps us to get to know who he is.  We begin to see his mercy, love and grace at work in our lives and we want to be more like that.  If we merely follow a list of laws, we want to make sure everyone else feels as restricted as we feel, and that can turn us into said "jerks."


Every new marriage has been through it.  The wife says, "Honey, you don't have to get me anything for our anniversary."  The husband takes her at her word and a big fight ensues.  "But," says the husband, "you said I didn't have to get you anything!"  "Yes," says the wife, "But I wanted you to WANT to anyway."


The wife isn't talking about gifts.  She's talking about the relationship.  God wants us to WANT to follow his commandments... not HAVE to.  Having to only makes us jerks.  Wanting to makes us more Christlike.


If Christianity had more WANT to's than HAVE to's, we'd be much more attractive to those we wish to share the good news with.


Dear Lord,
Bring us into a closer relationship with you.  Transform us into people who want to do your will.  Amen.


Joys: one last gorgeous Fall day... the colder weather is supposed to be here today; quiet evenings at home; Friday