The Divine Conspiracy - Chapter 1 - Word From A Different Reality

Vocabulary

• Contempt - the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn
• Competent - having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something
• Omit - leave out or exclude forgetfully of intentionally
• Propriety - the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals

Reflection
Willard begins this chapter explaining that the word and the relationship are available to everyone. There are no boundaries or rule that can exclude anyone from the relationship or knowledge of Christ, unless the word hasn't been presented in that part of the world. Although this is true, Willard states on page 11 "The invitation becomes over familiar, which leads to unfamiliarity, then contempt, but it's everywhere". The more Christianity is present, the more forms or opinions are generated from it, and so called "familiarity" is really "unfamiliarity" which breeds contempt. People think they know it all, people who just watch christians from the audience and seeing all the things thrown from the stage. Somewhere in the mix, people have altered the real meaning of Jesus. Jesus is just a part of your life, and some might even ask if Jesus is only there so I can "make the cut" when I die. What else is Jesus for? We take Him out of our daily lives because we don't think he's relevant. But what's great about Jesus is that he meets us where we are. He communicates to us that he wants us to be great, something more, out of the ordinary! Have you ever felt compelled to do something because it's different, not like everyone else? Everyone wants to be different, extraordinary. That feeling is no mistake, it's wired into us. We can share our weakness and he'll bring us wholeness. But now that we have found Jesus, take his teachings into account! Reconsider your life and realize that our lives have a purpose in Him. Willard uses the story in Luke where Jesus is invited for a meal at a Pharisee's house. A prostitute had entered the room and, when she saw Jesus, began to kiss his feet and put rare perfume on them. The Pharisee did not understand what was going on and Jesus explained to him that she had welcomed Him with everything she had to offer at the time and the Pharisee had not. To read the full story see Luke 7.