| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"bear163" |
| Date: |
24 Dec 2003 11:33:10 PM |
| Object: |
How the Christian life is not to copy Jesus |
Devotional Guide
For the week of December 21, 2003
PERFECT TIMING?
How the Christian life is not to copy Jesus
To Read: John 4-6
To Know:
"I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and
the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will
live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me,
and I in you." (Jn. 14:18-20)
County fairs, like the Topsfield Fair, have midways with skill challenges
that reward success with prizes. The challenges seem to be too easy to be
awarded with the valuable stuffed animals that fill the shelves in the tent.
One challenge is to topple three milk bottles with a single pitched ball.
Another is to ring a wooden block. The easiest is to make a basketball shot
from only a few feet. Few actually succeed at any of these. The person
manning the tent rarely fails. Obviously there is a trick in every case. One
surefire way for any of us to topple the bottles, ring the block, or make
the basket would be for the huckster to get into our skin. If the person
handing us the ball, the ring, or the basketball could act in us, then we
would walk away with the prize almost every time.
The apostle Paul penetrates to the heart of the Christian faith in his
letter to the Colossians. He wrote, "To them God chose to make known how
great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (1:27) Christ came into the world in
human form. The baby that Mary laid in a cow's feed troth (manger) was God
come in our skin.
To Do:
The Christian life is not a challenge to copy Jesus in our own flesh and
blood strength. Authentic Christianity is Christ in the life of a forgiven
sinner. To walk by faith is to live in reliance on the Lord to bring his
promises to pass in us. For example, during these days God has sent his word
to recreate fallen human beings. Only the word of God can transfer the
spiritually dead into the kingdom of God. When we prophesy (the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophesy) God takes our words and by them brings back
to life men and women who left to themselves would perish eternally.
12253$-12253
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
Re: Christian Life is Lived in Peace, Not War, in Love, Not Hate - "The Five Hundred", or How You Must Really Hate Yourself, Others, Our Troops, America, and Jesus to Support that Crook Bush
Apocrypa Infancy of Jesus, early Christian Writings...
Christian Morality: Priest MURDERS 2 Funderal Home Workers (Who Would Jesus Kill?)
Re: How did Jesus deal with false-christian scum like Charles Stanley?
J Young Christian Morality: Matthew Shepard's Mom Speak Out Against Hate (Praise Jesus! Kill Gays! Family Value! Hate the Sinner!)
Re: Will All Christian Denominations Unite Before Jesus COmes ?
Jesus Christ is Lord - HUGE CHRISTIAN WEB SITE!
CALLING CHRISTIAN NUTS, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
| Ancient Evidence for Jesus from Non-Christian Sources
Re: Was Jesus a Christian?
Re: Was Jesus a Christian?
Re: Was Jesus a Christian?
Re: Was Jesus a Christian?
Re: Was Jesus a Christian?
Re: Was Jesus a Christian?
|
|
|
