Knowing [that] God knows what’s best for us
In order for us to say that we have faith, we have to acknowledge not only that our Creator exists but that He knows better than we do about what is best for us. So for this year’s first prayer I am encouraging you to meditate upon this idea. Say out loud that God knows better than you do, then sit and consider this concept and all the areas where you may think otherwise. Ask the Lord to increase your faith, and then write down what is being revealed to you.
My thoughts on this:
(Although I must give credit to my friend Denis Goode for his sermon on this)
Jesus asked Peter two questions when He came down from the Mountain of Transfiguration.
The First question that Peter was asked was, "Who do others say I am?" I think this question is relevant today because it seems atheists are making a lot of stink lately trying to silence people of faith, especially followers of Jesus. In Jesus’ time there were lots of people debating who He was. Was he Elijah returned? Was He some new prophet of God or was He the Messiah - God's anointed one.
But the more important question was what Jesus asked Peter next and I believe it is still relevant to us today was, “Who do you say I am?” Peter responded that Jesus was the Son of God. In other words Jesus was the Messiah sent from God for his people. Now that was an entirely Jewish response loaded with all kinds of preconceived notions and some very specific expectations; Messiah/Conquering King who was going to kick the Romans out and make Israel a nation to be reckoned with. Which is why shortly after this revelation from God, Jesus is rebuking Peter and saying, “Satan get behind me!” (Matt. 16:23) Peter had no room for a Messiah who was going to die. He was sure of this and rebuked Jesus for suggesting otherwise.
We too have expectations which limit what it means for Jesus to be the only begotten Son of God. We each have to deal with those preconceived notions. Jesus is described as the God-Man; He is entirely God and entirely man. Many have struggled with this. Some say He cannot be 100% both. Either is half man half God or he is one or the other. Many arguments have sprung from these concerns. But for us modern Christians, we can accept this as one of the premises that define who Jesus Christ is to us. Unless He is entirely human he cannot fully understand our struggles and if He isn't entirely God, He could not be the perfect and sinless sacrifice needed to pay for all the sins of humanity past present and future.
This is the tension that we need to hold Christ in, in our understanding of him. We don’t want him so human as to see him wallowing in and approving of our sins and yet we do not want him so Holy as to be unapproachable. It is a paradox of sorts. He is holy and perfect, yet He lived among us a human being - as one of us. He is both our Savior who lives in unapproachable light and He is the one who lives in our hearts and whom we strive to live like so that we too can be called Christians (little Christs).
So as you ponder this point this week,remember that his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts, but He has made a way that we can become more and more like him as we seek his ways though the Word of God and in the power of The Holy Spirit.
Lord, you know better than we do - Lord increase our faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment