Are you familiar with the passage about the Kingdom of Heaven suffering violence, and the violent taking it by force? Do you find this to be a difficult passage? Does it seem impossible that the Kingdom of Heaven would suffer violence? Ponder the potential meanings of this and consider the second part of the passage. Is violence toward the Kingdom of Heaven rewarded? You could rephrase this as spiritually aggressive. Think of this in the context of the promise that you will find if you seek, and the thing of highest value should be your first priority.

Do you like quick and easy results? I offer you the promise of transformation, but I do not promise that it will be quick or easy. Is this something you want? Are you as interested if you know going into it that it is a long and difficult process? How much of your identity can you put up for grabs at any one time? Five percent? Are you willing to stay with it for the duration? Consider my love for you and the magnitude of my investment in making this promise. Are you convinced it is available because you have seen people in whom the change is a reality?

Is there a default faith? Atheists would claim it as theirs, for they reject all belief systems. The flaw in this argument is that they are making an affirmative claim for a negative assertion. The rules of reason and logic reject this, because it isn’t possible to prove a negative. A more accurate description of a default faith would be that of one who is seeking, because they do not claim to know. In the absence of a fixed belief they are in a position to examine and consider anything they find. Do you find this concept in the Bible? Seek and you will find.

I was Jewish as were my disciples, but most of my ministry was performed as an outsider. I found much to criticize in the practice of Judaism at the time, and my followers founded a new and distinct faith. Is there a progression in organizations that start out fresh and vibrant and become rigid structures? The Christian Church has been around for hundreds of years now. How true is it, would you say, to the founding vision? In Revelation I spoke to seven churches some of which were already in need of correction, and much time has passed since then.