Mark 1. 14-20: “The time is fulfilled; the kingdom of God has come near;

 repent, believe the good news…and Follow me.”

Life According to Got To: Sunday morning, a mother said to her sleeping son: “It’s Sunday, you’ve got to go to church.” A muffled protest from under the covers, “Oh, Mother, why have I got to go to church again?” “Because, son, you are pastor of that church.”

Ever noticed, our lives seem to be one got-to after another?  Got to go to work, cut the grass, do the laundry. Got to put up with aggravating people, eat less, exercise more, stretch the money, well, fill in your blank got-to.

At times God/church/Christian life things seem just more got-to’s in our lives. GOT-TO read the Bible, go to church, accept Jesus, forgive people, go second miles, love our enemies…hard enough with people in our family!

The Grammar of the Gospel: Albert Outler was a world-known preacher, theologian, scholar on John Wesley, leader in our Methodist way of following Jesus, of having lives worth living and dying for. As an older man, Outler was asked what he considered the heart of the Gospel. “For over 40 years, I’ve preached and taught we have got-to love one another on this earth. Now, I realize the heart of the Gospel is that we get-to love other.”

Did you enjoy grammar around the 8th grade, diagramming those sentences? Probably not. About then, we learned the difference between indicative and imperative. An indicative sentence, well, indicates something, states a reality. An imperative calls for, even commands or demands an action.

Mark: “Jesus came proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time is fulfilled; the kingdom is near; repent, believe the good news…and follow me.’” Indicatives lay the groundwork for imperatives. The time is right; God’s kingdom/reality/power/presence in Jesus is near…so we have the strength/ energy to repent/change/believe/follow Jesus. John Wesley noted underlying every command God gives in the Bible is God’s promise to be with us, to enable us to do what we could never do, or at least do well, on our own.

Richard Rohr: “Most of us were taught that God would love us if and when we change. In fact God loves you so that you can change.” The heart of the Gospel: not a drudgery got-to (imperative) but wonderful get-to (indicative).

Morgan’s One Sentence Apostles’ Creed: GOD’S GRACE IN JESUS GIVES US THE POWER AND PATTERN TO LIVE WITH JOY, SERVE WITH LOVE, AND DIE WITH HOPE. (Define grace, means of grace.)

Life according to get to: African-American poet Maya Angelou told of growing up in the rugged years of the American Depression. She stayed with her grandmother who ran a little ramble shamble country store for the field hands and day workers. Predawn workers stopped by to spend a penny, mainly to talk a bit before the long day. Often they would moan/groan about achy backs, the hot sun. At this Maya’s grandmother aid: “If you are just going to complain, go on! Don’t you know that some folks woke up dead this morning and would give anything for another day of hot sun and achy back?”

GOT-TO deal with another day…or GET-TO have another day.

GOT-TO deal with the people…or GET-TO have people in my life.

GOT-TO deal with my job, situation…or GET-TO have some work to do, some action to take that may make a difference. Our choice.

Friends, understand. Great love is often shown in hard GOT-TO situations. People work ratty jobs to provide for their family. Take care of loved ones with tough illnesses/conditions. God bless all you whose lives have hard GOT-TO situations. May you find God’s GET-TO grace even in them!

The Masters Instrument: Long ago, in a great European cathedral, there was a grand pipe organ, cared for by a dedicated old monk. One day, a stranger appeared, asked if he might play the majestic organ for a few minutes. The monk said no, only the greatest masters were allowed to play this instrument. The stranger persisted; the monk relented, cautioning him profusely.

The stranger played the organ more exquisitely beautiful than the old monk had ever heard. When the stranger finished the old man gasped, “who are you?” “My name is Johann Sebastian Bach.” With tears the old monk: “Mein Gott, I almost refused to let the master play my instrument.”

We are God’s instruments. We GET-TO to have our time on earth. We GET-TO love each other even when it is so hard to do. Because of God’s grace and Jesus’ love, we GET-TO have lives worth living and dying for.

Here is my hope for you and me: that we discover afresh/anew the GET-TO joy of living life, following Jesus, and serving others God makes possible for us. With God’s help and each other’s encouragement, let US be people that others GET-TO enjoy not only people that others have GOT-TO put up with.