Whatever else is true, it is emphatically not true that the ideas of Jesus of Nazareth were suitable to his time, but are no longer suitable to our time. Exactly how suitable they were to his time is perhaps suggested in the end of his story. –G. K. Chesterton
I am in search of a suitable Messiah . . . one who will come when I call . . . who will be strong . . . one whose omnipotence shows in ways I can measure . . . whose omnipresence is obvious by the changes wrought in the world . . . one whose omniscience prevents every bad thing before the badness even has a chance to grow from budding thought to flowering full-bloom evil . . .
I am in search of a suitable Messiah . . . strong, sure, purposeful, direct, clear and clearly in charge . . .
I am in search of a suitable Messiah . . . not a dependent, crying, needful baby . . . not a god who grows . . . not a savior who needs me to do the saving . . .
I am in search of a suitable Messiah . . . and this baby Jesus in the manger simply will not do!
A messiah who needs rescuing is an oxymoron.
Such a messiah isn’t suitable at all.
Christ is sufficient: 2 Peter 1:3-10 (NIV) 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
ReplyDelete5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen, Charlie, Amen!
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