Intrinsic Worth

I don't know if you know this, but I get really excited about words.  Words are my muse.   I love to hear them.  I love to sing them.  I love to speak them. I love to read them.  And I love when they are sweetly spoken to me. 

The other day, I read a phrase in the bible that jumped right out at me. The words intrinsic worth popped off the page this morning with such excitement it almost made a splash in my coffee.   Does that ever happen to you?  Not necessarily words that literally jump into coffee, but you read something or hear something and it just lingers? Well I read this little portion of scripture a few days ago;  "Stop regarding man, whose breath [of life] is in his nostrils [for so little time]; in what sense can he be counted as having intrinsic worth. "  Isaiah 2:22 And the phrase intrinsic worth got me so all kinds of excited that I tweeted it right then and there so I wouldn't forget it.  I immediately checked the googles for what the true meaning of this phrase might be. I found it hard to understand in a tangible human way, but incredibly worthy of a description for the Creator of this vast universe. It made me think and ask questions like what do I find worthy in this life?  Someone asked me a long time ago if you really want to know what matters in your life imagine your house is on fire ... what do you grab to get out as fast as you can, and what would you go back in there for? Of course everyone who has loved ones in their house would of course say them and their pets first, but then what would it be? When I think long and hard about that there isn't much I'd come running back inside a burning house  for, but I do have a binder of all titles, passports, social security cards, birth certificates that is easy accessible and ready to run out with.  The other stuff in comparison has no real worth except maybe some precious pictures and MY BIBLE.  My bible has countless notes and highlights and love letters in it from others that couldn't be replaced but what makes it intrinsically worthy to me has more to do with who wrote it and the conversations we've been having all these years because of that book. The whole entire bible is one long love letter to all of God's creation.  Yes, it can be hard to understand sometimes. Yes, it was written by men.  But it was, and is, and always will be breathed upon and made to come alive by God's own Spirit. Sometimes when I sit with my big bible (It's big because I chose an Amplified Version of the bible because there are MORE WORDS in it) I feel as though.. no I KNOW that God himself if sitting right there with me. Whispering sweet nothings ... wait sweet every-things and so much more into my ear. "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."  Psalm 130:5

There are no other words so powerful as those that are spoken to the soul from it's creator.  Intrinsic Worth.  

The Wells in this Life

I have been camping out in a story that is one of my favorites in the bible. It's the story of when Jesus comes to a well in a Samaritan town and asks for a drink from a woman. Right away, Jesus the rebel, is on a roll. Because, here he does two things that in that day and era were not acceptable behavior for a Rabbi. He is not to drink from this well because Jews didn't associate with Samaritan's let alone drink from their wells.
Kinda like on the east coast there are certain neighborhoods still to this day I am told, that if you are Irish walking down the street in an Italian neighborhood, you better watch your back. And you certainly wouldn't want to enter an Irish pub, if you are wearing Italian colors!

Well, and then he wasn't supposed to be speaking to this woman, or A woman for that matter.

If you think Jesus wasn't a rebel, think again.
He most certainly was a rebel in his day. He bucked the system around every corner of his life, and he did it with a passion and a purpose. I don't mean to say he went around aimlessly causing trouble, but he definitely knew where to stir some stinky pots. And this was a pot he thought should be stirred. He knew there were some things that it was good to rebel against.

Back to this story. I have always loved this story because right from the start Jesus exposes his humanity first. He says to the woman, "I am thirsty". He asks her for a favor. He's been walking and he really needs a drink. Often times I think we overlook this about Jesus. He was both God and Man. Fully God. Fully Man. It's a mystery that I will study for the rest of my life. I think this must have put this woman at ease a little. It would have been like a celebrity asking YOU for your autograph. She probably thought it was funny, and I am sure right away she could see this man was different.

I am sure she is also shocked by his request because she knows he's not supposed to be talking to her so she points out the obvious and says, "But you don't have anything to put the water in" There's a song coming on here. Wait for it... wait for it... (There's a whole in your bucket dear Jesus, dear Jesus) sorry I couldn't resist. Or like, you don't have a pen for my autograph, silly!

***Jesus cuts the small talk at this point and then goes on to describe to her that all who drink from that well will be thirsty again, but there is another well with "Living" water that he could give her so that she will never thirst again.

Hmm....

Well you don't have to ask this woman twice to take this "Living" water that he speaks of. She's no dumby. She knows if she gets water that she doesn't ever get thirsty from again, then she will never have to do this chore of going to get water again. And if she never has to do this chore of getting water again, then her life would be made that much easier. And this lady, she could use a little "easy" in her life. Couldn't we all use a little "easy"?

Also, this chore, well it's one that this woman in particular really doesn't like.
She doesn't like the chore of getting water because it means that she has to go somewhere where only women will be. Sometimes women... well they can be catty. And she has had her fair share of catty women. It's like baby showers, with only women. Bridal showers with only women. Hair Salons, only women. Most PTA meetings, only women. You get the idea. If you are women who other women admire, these events, this chore is no big deal. She was not. She preferred to hang out with the men. But, Men didn't do this chore of going and getting water apparently.

Hmmm men who don't do chores? Wait... Don't let me get off topic here.

Ok, so when she ASKS for the "Living" water Jesus immediately wants to know what other well in her life she's been drinking from. So he says to her this,

"Go call your husband and come back here"

Some might think that Jesus was being a tricky trickster with that remark, but I see it as him just wanting... (another song coming on here)... "to get down to the heart of the matter" He wants to know if she will be honest about what other well has been feeding her soul.

She knows the bitter truth about her life.

He knows it to.

Don't we all know the bitter truths about our lives?

We know there are other wells in life that we draw from that are neither healthy, nor truly satisfying in the end. We are left wanting, thirsting for more.

The wells of life come in all shapes and sizes.
They can look like;

Husbands.
Shoes.
Drugs.
Wives.
Clothes.
Alcohol.
Health,Fitness,Our Looks.
Cars.
Money.

You get the idea.


Jesus knows that before we can truly receive "Living" water we have to be honest with him and ourselves about what other wells in our lives we have been looking to.

Because don't we have to admit to the truth before we can receive healing?

We have to say it out loud.


She says;
"I don't have a husband" In fact she's had 7 and the man she lives with now isn't even her husband. What would you say is this woman's well? Approval of Man, Lust,??

After she admits the truth, she tries to distract Jesus.
Psh... like you can distract the Lover of your Soul.
But don't we try?
Sometimes the truth hurts and we want Jesus to look away.

He doesn't.
You know what else he doesn't do?

Jesus doesn't condemn.
He doesn't scorn.
He looks with love.
He says, I am what you are looking for.
Your search is over.
You can stop wandering in the wilderness.
Come and drink and finally be satisfied.

"I am empty but I know your well does not run dry"

John 4

The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-11

"Blessed are the poor in spirit(the humble who rate themselves insignificant) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
Blessed and enviably happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!
Blessed are the meek(the mild,patient,long-suffering) for they shall inherit the earth!
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied!
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God!
Blessed are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called sons of God!
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake(for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account." Matthew 5:3-11

The book I have been currently reading, "The Jesus I never Knew" by Phillip Yancey , spends a great deal of time in this portion of scripture. He really shed a whole new light on these scriptures for me and I have really been enjoying the depth I am getting out of it all. These are some of my thoughts on them so far and I am sure there will be more to come.
To me the Beatitudes are like Jesus mission statement. Stay with me here, although He doesn't say in here what He has come to earth to do which would be like a mission statement(what we are here for, what we will do, our plans, goals etc.) He in a sense turns upside down the system of this world in these words and presents a challenge to all humanity. Across the span of time, 2000 years + these words challenge us all to the core because at the core these words are selfless. He is saying if you want to know who I am , what I think is important, what I value, then spend some time with these concepts. They are uncomfortable for us to think about. Mourners, Poor, Weak- these are not words that are desirable. Certainly not desirable words in America. We want to see Shiny Happy People all the time. Just take a look at what gets coverage in the media, Shiny Happy People. Reminds me again of the time when Princess Dianna died and shortly after so did Mother Theresa, whose funeral got more attention? Whose life got more air time?
These words make me fall in love with Jesus all over again. What a beautiful thing to see the beauty and value in someone who would otherwise go unnoticed. The poor are to be pitied in our society but Jesus doesn't think so. He is saying to me that they are the ones who understand or who have it, the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Poor people- those who depend on others to get by, who roam the streets looking for a cozy bench to sleep on or a trash can that might have some pretty good leftovers- Theirs is the kingdom of heaven!! Piece by piece Jesus dismantles the systems and worldviews that I have become accustomed to and He makes me believe in a simpler, more pure way of living. I want what these words hold within them. The value and treasure of My King are in these words and I want to understand them, desperately I do.

The Bible

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

I love this manual for life that we have been given. Sometimes when I open it up to read I know that it is not just alive but it really does know the thoughts and attitudes of my heart. So often I will read exactly what needed to change in my heart for that day. It isn't always what I wanted to hear but it is always what I need to hear. How does a book do this? It's just a book right? :)
If I were to try and explain to someone who hasn't had this experience with the bible yet I would tell them, It's like going to see a psychic or counselor everyday or having someone read your journal and then tell you exactly what you needed to hear from all the emotions that were laid barren in your journal. Something like that. I guess there probably isn't a real way to know what it is like until you are there. Kinda like parenting or being in love. Those are things that even though you could explain them it really doesn't hit home til you are there.
I remember that when I was little we always had bibles around and we never read them(or least I didn't ) but they were there on the self like any other book would be. Little did I know that if I only read with a new perspective and a resceptive heart that book would change my life.
There is a reason this book has been around for so long and is the hottest seller. I am very thankful that in this country I am not put in jail for reading it , instead I can have as many copies laying around my house as I want and read it all day long if I want. I am thankful for that and for the way this book is changing my life.
If I were to rate it .....well.....it's off the charts but a 5***** for sure!!!