"It's All About Jesus" (Mother Teresa)

"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus."  (Hebrew 3:1)

"....Consider...Christ Jesus...."  This is the invitation (command?) of the Bible, of our Heavenly Father, as in, "This is My Beloved Son.  Hear Him!"

If you ask most people what Mother Teresa was best known for, they would say something like, "caring for the poor."  She did.  But that is not what she wanted to be "best known" for.  Her last words to then Senator Sam Brownback were, "Remember Senator: It's all about Jesus.  It's all about Jesus.  It's all about Jesus."  She wanted the Senator to have no doubts as to her loyalty, the motivation and foundation of her life and work; hence, Mother Teresa's thrice declaration, "It's all about Jesus."

Father and Holy Spirit command us to, "Consider Christ Jesus," and, "Hear Him!" because Jesus is, "The Word of God."  We can say that Jesus is the Word of the Blessed Trinity.  I assert that only in Jesus Christ do we have what humanity can "discern/understand" of the Living Triune God.  If we only talk to people about "God," they can come up with any and every mental concept they have.  When we speak of Jesus, we "define" God.  Humanity can and will continue to speculate, but Jesus greatly hinders this attempt at self deception and misunderstanding at just Who is God.

I know I have worked this over and over throughout my life time, but I believe that the ever increasing marginalizing of Jesus in modern Christendom is at the center of, as the book title declares, The Great Evangelical Recession.  People are not interested in our "moralizing."  The "seeker friendly" church does not seem to be working.  Jesus tells us that the primary work of the Holy Spirit is, "He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you....He will glorify Me."  So too should our songs, our prayers, our evangelism, our missions, our preachings and teachings.  Never confuse numbers, great preaching and worship, prayers, missions, anything as "anointed" that from start to finish does not, "Consider Christ Jesus."

The great "mission" of the Church is to call humanity to, "Consider Christ Jesus," or, I can say with absolute certainty, they will "consider" everything other than.  "Born again," conversion, salvation only "transpire" when people are called to, "Consider Jesus", of whom Peter tells us, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree....For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."   

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that every moment of every day of my life I, "Consider Christ Jesus."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"You Only Look At Me"

"I cry to You for help and You do not answer me; I stand, and You only look at me."  (Job 30:20, ESV)

"I stand, and You only look at me."  Could this manifest a sort of "challenge" to the Triune God?  I had a picture of Job praying, crying out, only to come to the conclusion, "You do not answer me."  Then, at some point, Job stands up, perhaps in frustration, and sees Jesus, "....look[ing] at me."  How absolutely powerful is this text!

Now if you are one of those who would say to Job, "Well God always answers our prayers.  It's just that sometimes the answer is, "yes," and sometimes it is, "no," and  sometimes, "not yet."  Beware!  Here is another:  "....You only look at me."  Maybe we can call this "the silent answer."

I can tell you that until I read our text yesterday in the ESV, I had not thought of the many times this has been true in my life.  There were certainly times in the summer of '70 I experienced this, and, I can say many times since.  Some may say that, "You only look at me," seems to speak of not caring, just doing nothing; not so.  The, "look at me," of our Lord Jesus Christ is unequaled "medicine" for the discouraged.  Do you remember the encounter which Jesus had with that rich young man?  "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him...."  That "Look," unwilling though he was to forsake all to follow Jesus, must have stayed with him the rest of his life.

I conclude today with this thought.  "You only look at me," is just as much healing, empowering impartation as "words."  Open our eyes, Lord Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for These Words.  I so desire You to, "....look at me."  Amen.

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Read: "Germany's Hypocrisy On Israel" at:  jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....My Very Heart...."

"I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you."  Philemon 12, NIV)

The NASB says, "I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart."

In the movie, "Tombstone," at one point a character asked Holiday why he risked his life for Wyatt.  Holiday replied, "He's my friend."  The response of the inquisitor:  "H___, I have lots of friends."  Holiday:  "I don't."  This is the sad life of so very many on this planet.  What can you and I do to be a friend to the "Holidays" of this world?

Today's text is the very heart of, "koinonia," or, "fellowship," better translated, "participation."  Furthermore, I believe we are to see each other as, "friends," just as our Lord Jesus says of us, "You are My friends...."  This sounds to me like a warm relationship of care, compassion, yes, and love, expressed similarly as Paul's attitude toward Onesimus.  This is who you and I are in Jesus Christ.  We are Fellow Participants in Jesus Christ, and with one another, the Church.  The question which you and I need to ask ourselves today is, Is Paul's attitude towards Onesimus the same as yours and mine towards each other, towards Jesus' Church?  And, dare we even venture---- towards the lonely of the world?!? 

To say that we are all "different" is an understatement, but, of course, we are.  Now we all know that it is only "natural" to like some people more than others.  But we are not of the "natural."  We are of the Spirit.  My Dad used to say that we should "treat everyone alike."  That is quite a "bill to fill," but it is true Biblical Theology, "Love your neighbor (not just the ones we "like") as yourself."  And no one should ask, "And who is my neighbor?"  The answer would be the same as it was centuries ago. 

Okay, I admit; maybe I ventured today a little beyond our text.  I do believe, however, that the affection/love expressed in our text is nothing short of, "agape," the love of Jesus Christ, and that, "agape," manifested in and through us His Church; it is a powerful exemplar passage.  May we never, ever forget the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ, "....inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren (as the runaway slave, Onesimus) you did it to Me."  This is an oft quoted passage.  I wonder if it is oft done. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that Paul's attitude towards Onesimus be my attitude.  Amen. 

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We have had some change in plans concerning our possible move.  "The best laid plans"------?  Anyway, we are literally waiting on Jesus.  Prayers appreciated.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....Do Whatever Is Good"

"Remind the people...to be ready to do whatever is good...."  (From Titus 3:1, NIV)

Well, that's not a very "exciting" text, some may think.

Probably to some it is because it tells us to do something.  The reality, sad, but nevertheless reality, is that modern evangelicals and charismatics tend to emphasize belief and "confession," over, "....do whatever is good."  They want to be very careful (or use as an excuse) not to be of the "works" religion.  Perhaps it would be okay to say of today's text, Go to work today and, "....be ready to do whatever is good..," or, Go to school and, "....do whatever is good..," or, well, I think you see.  

The title for Titus 3 in the NIV is, "Saved In Order To Do Good."  It is said of our Lord Jesus Christ that He, "....went about doing good...."  I want to, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I receive afresh and anew These, Your Words today.  Thank You.  Amen.

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Had a change in housing possibility.  On hold for now.  Any prayers still appreciated.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2