All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.]
—1 John 3:24
Some people wanted to follow Jesus, but they were afraid they would be put out of the synagogue (see John 12:42). Some people are still afraid to follow the Lord because they might be put out of their family, their group, or even their church.
Eventually there will only be one Person to face—God. You won’t want Him to say, “I had so much for you, but you didn’t receive it because you were too concerned about what people thought; you were a people-pleaser.” Jesus wasn’t swayed by men’s opinions, threats, judgments, or criticisms. Follow Jesus, and enjoy life.
A Humble Saviour
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
Zechariah 9:8–9
Kings and rulers of the world are routinely accompanied by great ceremony. Flanked by guards, their presence announced by music or trumpets, they enter ostentatiously with fanfare and do things to draw attention to themselves. Media and photographers follow them everywhere, keeping their faces before the public and reporting on their every move. They have press secretaries and publicists to make sure that their image is guarded and they receive plaudits and praise.
In contrast, though Jesus possessed and deserved all the glories of Heaven, the Old Testament foretold Him as a humble ruler. We see this even in the circumstances of His birth. Born to a family of little means, and placed in a borrowed manger used by the animals, Jesus had no glory in His coming. The angels told the Good News, not to the high and mighty in Jerusalem, but to a group of shepherds in the fields with their flocks.
Because of their constant contact with the sheep, shepherds were ritually unclean, and were looked down on in polite society. Because of their proximity to Jerusalem, it is very possible that the shepherds of Bethlehem were raising lambs for the Temple sacrifices. Yet because they were unclean, they would not be allowed inside the Temple. It was to these men who were despised, that the message of the birth of Jesus was first revealed. He laid aside His glory so that He could become our perfect Saviour.
Zechariah 9:8–9
Kings and rulers of the world are routinely accompanied by great ceremony. Flanked by guards, their presence announced by music or trumpets, they enter ostentatiously with fanfare and do things to draw attention to themselves. Media and photographers follow them everywhere, keeping their faces before the public and reporting on their every move. They have press secretaries and publicists to make sure that their image is guarded and they receive plaudits and praise.
In contrast, though Jesus possessed and deserved all the glories of Heaven, the Old Testament foretold Him as a humble ruler. We see this even in the circumstances of His birth. Born to a family of little means, and placed in a borrowed manger used by the animals, Jesus had no glory in His coming. The angels told the Good News, not to the high and mighty in Jerusalem, but to a group of shepherds in the fields with their flocks.
Because of their constant contact with the sheep, shepherds were ritually unclean, and were looked down on in polite society. Because of their proximity to Jerusalem, it is very possible that the shepherds of Bethlehem were raising lambs for the Temple sacrifices. Yet because they were unclean, they would not be allowed inside the Temple. It was to these men who were despised, that the message of the birth of Jesus was first revealed. He laid aside His glory so that He could become our perfect Saviour.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Just as Christ set aside His glory and prerogatives, we should humbly love and serve those around us.
Follow Jesus
by Joyce Meyer - posted December 13, 2016All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.]
—1 John 3:24
Some people wanted to follow Jesus, but they were afraid they would be put out of the synagogue (see John 12:42). Some people are still afraid to follow the Lord because they might be put out of their family, their group, or even their church.
Eventually there will only be one Person to face—God. You won’t want Him to say, “I had so much for you, but you didn’t receive it because you were too concerned about what people thought; you were a people-pleaser.” Jesus wasn’t swayed by men’s opinions, threats, judgments, or criticisms. Follow Jesus, and enjoy life.
No comments:
Post a Comment