TWITTER – the personal micro-blogging service – has revolutionised the way we communicate.
Since the very first tweet sent by its creator Jack Dorsey on March 21, 2006, it has grown exponentially as a tool used by 645 million people and embracing 135,000 new users each day.
People type their thoughts, ideas, principles and philosophies into just 140 characters, making it more difficult to explain yourself than the 160 character SMS (text message). We have to abbreviate, compress and simplify our thoughts to fit the limited text box on the screen.
These two pieces of technology, and our tendency to oversimplify, have shaped the way we communicate and think about so many issues.
In life we often do the same. We search for the one key, the defining principle, the new programme or the fresh idea that will bring success. We pray for and seek out the ‘thing’ that will give us the breakthrough we desire.
But in reality it’s hardly ever ‘one thing’ we need but ‘many things’ working in synergy with each other. We enjoy the ‘suddenlies’ and ‘immediatelies’ of God but my life’s experience and my reading of the Scriptures has caused me to realise the benefit of the ‘slowlies’ and ‘progessivelies’ of God – please excuse my English – as well. Many of the great things God has accomplished he did over months, years, lifetimes and generations.
Read the full story in September’s issue of New Life
Behind every ‘meaningful’ tweet are carefully selected and crafted words which encapsulate a much broader definition (or a web link). In the same way, when Jesus simplified the complex ideas of the Kingdom of God into bite-sized statements, each one was loaded with implications.
When Jesus was challenged by the scribes to declare what the foremost commandment is (Mark 12:28-34), he replied with a concise quote from the Levitical law. He brought ancient wisdom to a current context. As a tweet, his reply would be: “Jesus said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, mind and strength. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ It’s only 134 characters long (including spaces) but loaded with implications for our life, ministry and mission.
This should be the axiom by which we live out our lives and affect every area of what we do.
New Life
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