Trust Christ
Jesus could upset people and he could say things that offended them. You couldn't always trust him to be soft and tender but you could always depend on him--as C.S. Lewis would put it--you could always depend on him to be good. If he said it was so then it was so! And if it weren't so he would tell you. That's how he is.
When he spoke he knew what he was talking about and what he talked about all the time was his Holy Father. He knew his Father well not only because he was with him always, before the world was, but because he lived in joy-filled and holy fellowship with him through the Holy Spirit. His profound understanding of his Father was the result of that loving communion and he showed his love for his Father in doing his Father's will. He talked about that a lot.
If I were beginning my life with God all over again I'd give Jesus himself my vote as the one to be trusted when all others might be doubted. So I suggest that you steep yourself in the mind and ways and words of Christ because he will definitely show you the Father. He wasn't boasting when he said that anyone who saw him saw the Father and that if they knew him they would know the Father (John 14). He was assuring them and he gives us that assurance also.
Christ is the visible image of God so we can trust him to bring us to the Father. God is like Christ, somebody said, and in him is no unChristlkeness at all. I think that's a great way to put it. If you hear smart people say strange things about God; things that unsettle you, just say to yourself, "God is like Jesus Christ!" and then ask yourself if what they said would be true of Christ. I know that's too simple but it'll do to begin with.
Trust Christ when he says he is one with his Father. If we asked someone to teach us about music we'd be happy if Bach or Beethoven or Mozart said, "I will." If we asked someone to teach us about literature we'd be pleased if Shakespeare or Dickens or Hugo said, "I will." If we asked someone to teach us about God we should be thrilled beyond measure when Jesus stands up and says, "I'll be happy to do that." Trust Christ to teach you about God.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
No comments:
Post a Comment