Ha ha, how about this for a BOLD ambition?!
It arose from enjoying Michael Gelb's insights into, "How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci." That kind of innovative, expansive, Renaissance thinking is essential given that the China Crisis aka World Crisis has, so far, wiped £2.7 Trillion off the World's productivity - that is if productivity can be equated with lost working hours. [Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/news/global-income-falls-by-27tn-4222161/ ]
How DARE I write this? Talk about imposter syndrome on steroids! However, that's just an excuse. The thoughts of the most successful Human Being that has ever lived are clearly marked out in Red Ink in some versions of the New Testament! It's a no-brainer. Go through these like an honourable journalist and just report on the way He thinks - that's Gospel Truth!
But that would also be a bit lazy (and boring?)
Instead, whilst I promise to go through ALL the New Testament in this series, I'm not going to do it in order. I'm going to act 'as if' I'm inspired to write this to you in the order it 'comes' to me.
IT BEGINS WITH STRATEGY NOT TACTICS
What Jesus told us to do, as the equivalent of habitual behavioural tactics, really doesn't make sense without first understanding the context of the Divine Strategy for Human Well-Being.
He really was clear on His Mission:
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
The Gospel of John chapter 10, verse 10
Right from the beginning, we are clear that there is a villain in this story - here called, "The thief." The enemy comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. There is no confusion here. If events in your life steal, kill, or destroy, they are diametrically opposite and opposed to the Character and express Will of God.
What is God's Will, His Intent, His Purpose?
God's purpose is that YOU and I may have Life (with a Capital 'L' methinks) and to have it abundantly.
BEFORE YOU GO FURTHER
God is not a deceiver - that's the other one. There's no trick here. "Abundance" means abundance... plus a lot more!
I'd like you to pause and complete this wonderful exercise.
Mind Map blank template on the topic of "Abundance" giving space to write in what "Abundance" means to you
Write on the branches the topics you associate with the topic of "Abundance".
"Abundance" in the Greek
The Greek word is rather splendid. It's a transliteration of "Perissos" which comes from "Peri" (meaning "all-around, excess") beyond what is anticipated, exceeding expectation; "more abundant," going past the expected limit... [Quoted from: https://biblehub.com/greek/4053.htm ] Thus, whatever 'limits' you've put on what Abundance means to you, God can and wills to go beyond it.
SHOCK!
This is SO far beyond my experience and the experience of most people (including all the Christians) that I know, that we have to take a breath in and decide right here and now whether or not God is serious.
I'm siding with the whole, "God means what He says," movement!
This means that the first step to thinking like Jesus Christ is knowing that God's Will is a level of abundance that exceeds our small expectations.
The second step is taking that mission on yourself as the agenda for your Life. Your purpose for being here is that those you meet may have Life and have it more abundantly! Their lives are meant to be enriched by working with you.
Our task is to make people's lives better, richer, more enjoyable... to redefine their expectations of what 'Life' means. There's a catch, of course! They have to work with the programme - it's active, not passive.
Here endeth lesson one, and I believe we're off to a pretty wonderful start, don't you?
