I've recently realized that if we aren't in love with Jesus it doesn't matter how disciplined or patient or whatever else we are. It's all for nothing. So I decided to go back to the basics and share insights on Jesus. I'm not going to lie, much of this insight originated with Beth Moore's studies. There's just too much to learn and study and still we can never grasp who Jesus is and what He's done for us...until we make it to heaven.
Hopefully through these characteristics of Christ you can gain some new awe and amazement about the Savior that we can call our own.
1. He is God - John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."
**Thought - God came to earth FOR US...amazing and so crazy; think of 'Undercover Boss' but reversed. He came down to the inner workings of His kingdom to save us (not like bosses who find out what they are doing wrong), disguised as a regular human but no less the God that He is. And what does He save us from? Ourselves, our sin and most importantly God's wrath. Just remember, when you are tempted to think "Yeah, and?" that He could have chosen to wipe us all out and start over
2. He Loves Us - Think about this for a minute; we know God loves us because John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world...") tells us this, but Jesus, Son of God loves us EVEN AFTER LIVING WITH US AND BEING HATED BY US.
**Can you imagine what He went through having to live like a human and put up with us humans? Luke 13:34 gives His lament over Jerusalem "How often would I have gathers your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not." How much more does He lament over our failings and yet He still loves us and wants us.
**More than that He came and died for us. We always focus on God loving us so much that He sent His Son to die, but lately I've been thinking how much the Son loves us that He would Himself die! He had to go through the death...be abandoned by His Father....take the wrath...all to save our wretched souls who can't even carve time out of my day to pray and worship Him properly.
** John 17:9, 24 "I am praying for them. I am not praying for the those but for those whom you have given Me, for they are yours....Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." He prayed this right before He was betrayed. He was about to suffer more than we can imagine, more than the world had ever or will ever see and He prayed for US! Let that sink in. That's love.
3. He is compassionate - Read Luke 7:11-15 He raised the widow's son out of pure compassion. the words in greek imply that Christ, in His lordship, touched the widow's son and healed him out of an unstoppable compassion and love. The word for touch actually means to apply oneself to, to touch; and the opposite of this is self control. Jesus was so overcome by sudden compassion He couldn't help but do what He does best...heal and restore. ** From such a disciplined Savior we see unbridled compassion at this moment and in so many moments in our lives. We, like the widow, haven't done anything to warrant or deserve the compassion, but he offers it because that is His nature.
4. He is available - He never turned down opportunities to help just because He was tired, sad, missing His home and Father, or frustrated with lack of faith of people. He was faithful to be the Savior just as He is faithful to us at all times. An example is in Luke 6:17-19 when He is ministering to the multitudes.
5. He is strong and magnetic - He was a carpenter before He was a preacher; He drew people to Him before they even knew who He was. We can't forget this and let the wimpy pics presented guide our perception. **We serve a mighty Jesus that, if we let ourselves get within any distance of, can't help but be drawn closer to Him. Luke 2:52 " And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and favor with God and man."
6. Jesus is faithful when He doesn't have to be - The temptation in the desert was to get the earth back without completing the plan...to shortcut the plan for salvation to make it easier on Himself. He could have ended it all right then, but instead chose to go through the suffering to save us...WOW. ** Garden of Gethsemane - He was in anguish; He prayed that He didn't have to go trough with the plan 3 TIMES but ultimately submitted to authority of God to save unfaithful, worm-like, sinful us. "And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed saying Father if you are willing remove this cup from me. Nevertheless not my will but yours be done. and there appeared to him and angel from heaven strengthening Him. And being in agony He prayed more earnestly and His sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:41-44
** Think about what agony is, what anguish is…..Jesus went through that for you, so you could be with Him if you have faith and repent. Amazing love….
If you aren't in love with Him yet then study more, pray for love, make Him your savior… love with grow!
As for me I'll be waiting for this day and my Knight in shining armor:
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but imself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. on His robe and on His thigh he has this name written:
"KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS"
Revelation 19:11-16
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