Living parables

On p. 102 of McLaren's THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS he says:

"...the secret message of Jesus is meant not just to be heard or read but to be seen in human lives, in radically incluse reconciling communities, written not on pages in a book but in the lives and hearts of friends. Can you see how the kingdom, originally hidden in parables, began to be hidden in new places -- in the stories of real people and real communities across the Roman Empire and, eventually, around the world? Can you imagine yourself and your community of faith as a living parable where the secret message of Jesus could be hidden today?"

That reminds me of the Michael Card cd "poiema" (actually, I only had it on cassette)... "the poem of your life." This is such a cool thought to me. WE are the message! The message is for us, in us, about what happens to us, and how we live it out. Hmm.

I read this after reading from 1 Peter 3... "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it..."

I think most people want to "love life and see good"... but don't you think we believe that comes by something we think someone else should do? Instead, Peter says it comes by watching what we say; guarding what is in our minds; the things we do; how we react to others. It's an internal thing. Ultimately... it comes by doing life in the way of Jesus. Being a living parable. A living story of how life in his way can transform US, which in turn can change the world.

Live, friends. Seek peace (in your soul; your relationships; the world). That's the revolution.