Hello, my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends,
What subject do you speak about with the greatest confidence and excitement? Your favorite sports team or vacation place? Or perhaps your family? Have you ever met someone who speaks about JESUS with great joy and enthusiasm? Do they speak with humble confidence that they are convinced of the absolute truthfulness of Jesus Christ and His Gospel story, as though they were an eyewitness. As though they actually walked along with the disciples and Jesus?
I’ve had the great privilege of knowing some people like that and they have profoundly impacted my life. I’ve had the privilege of visiting Israel 5 times and yes, the Bible really does come alive when you are there on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, or on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem.
The apostle Paul talked and wrote about Jesus like that, and in 2 Corinthians 4:1 Paul wrote to his friends in the crazy city of Corinth: “Since through God’s mercy we have this ministry [proclaiming Jesus] we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor. 4:1,2) Oh my, do you hear Paul’s confidence and authenticity?
The Holy Spirit knew, both then and in every generation since, there will always be many people, some even very articulate and convincing people, who will distort God’s truth for their own benefit. The confusion they cause will be widespread. Today, of course, this is magnified like never before with global internet access and advanced technology availability to almost anyone. But Paul wants everyone who will ever read his letters to understand his profound commitment to legitimacy, integrity, honesty, truthfulness and full transparency.
So Paul continued: “For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:5,6) Do you see Paul’s confident declaration that the very same God who spoke the universe into existence, had confronted Paul on the road to Damascus! And the same God who spoke God’s truth into Paul’s mind and heart so Paul could then communicate God’s truth to the world. Do you also see Paul’s certainty that in His incarnation, God the Son, Jesus Christ, was the full display of God’s glory here on earth for all to experience!
That is a concept which captivated Paul and he wrote about it in several of his letters because it is so essential to WHO Jesus is and WHY His Gospel is the only hope of our world. To the Colossians, Paul wrote: “The Son is the image of the invisible God… for in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…all things have been created THROUGH Him and FOR Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together…” (Col. 1:15-17) Oh my that is a glorious statement confirming that God the Son, Jesus, is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists! And it’s ALL for His glory… the galaxies out in space and the underwater water world here on earth; angels and humans…all for His glory!
John the apostle was also captivated by the wonder of Jesus, for John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…through Him all things were made…In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind…The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-4,14) John was enamored with Jesus and convinced Jesus was who He claimed to be… God incarnate. John, you’ll recall, stood at the cross and watched Jesus die. John was trusted by Jesus to care for His mother, Mary, and John saw the resurrected Jesus several times. John was one of those enthusiastic, passionate communicators about Jesus!
So John was led to write: “This we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared: we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so you may have fellowship with us…” (1 John 1:1-4)
The truth of who Jesus is and what His life here on earth accomplished for all humanity unites us together as God’s people, redeemed by the blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Paul calls us to pause and give serious consideration to how important this really is to our generation in the present confusion of our world. Paul challenges us to consider with what confidence and joyful exuberance WE talk about Jesus our Savior, Friend and King!
Let’s pause right here and I invite you to spend some time talking with Jesus about this, expressing your profound delight and gratitude TO Jesus for all He has made available to you and how your life is so profoundly different and hopeful because of your relationship with Jesus. Then dig into the ‘lessons learned’ study notes and join with a great worship song, and then just praise Jesus… and I’ll be here waiting for you tomorrow.
Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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