If someone asked you today, right now, to tell them about Jesus . . . what would you say? So many times we tend to talk about where we go to church, or what is our denomination, or about some program we attend. Rarely, let me say this again with emphasis, rarely do we speak to others about Jesus Christ. For some (I dare say for many), talking about Jesus is just not something we do alot.
My prayer is that you would develop, through your own relationship with Christ, an answer to the question posted above. Scripture tells us we all will stand before Jesus some day. I wonder what He will ask us? It is my belief one of the things He will ask us is . . . what have you done with the revelation I have given you that I Am The Messiah? You remember the encounter story taken from the Gospel narratives. I love the narrative from the gospel of Mark. He places it after the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Incredibly, Jesus asks His disciples a question that cuts to the heart of their faith (and ours!).
"Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, Who do people say I am? They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.But what about you? He asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, You are the Christ."
You are the Christ . . . You are the Messiah. You are the Chosen One . . . the One prophesied by so many. You are our Savior and our Lord.
For many Christians these statements seem to be some far out Message. Indeed. The Message is radical. See, the Message does not come from some program, creed, doctrine, denomination, or even from humankind. No.
The Message comes from a revelation from God. Christ was revealed to Peter. Oh, they all say the miracles, they all saw what Jesus could do in their lives, they all heard the parables . . . yup, all true. Yet, it took one little question . . . 6 words . . . that cut to the very heart of what you believe. Who do you say that I am?
Jesus asked this question to His disciples . . . He still is asking the same question today. What would you say to Him right now? Do you seek Him in all you do? Do you give Him all your burdens and pain, indeed your very life? My prayer is that you would pause, even as you are reading this and tell Jesus how you would answer that one question . . . He waits patiently for your response . . . your encounter with the Master awaits . . .
Your brother in Christ,
Jeff
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38 NIV
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
At my age I never thought I would be hosting a blog site about our Lord Jesus Christ. Blog. That's funny. That word was not even in my vocabulary until a few weeks ago. I didn't even know what blogging meant until my daughter Lauren told me.
Boy, I really feel old and out of touch sometimes. Life seems to be passing by at a record pass and I am simply forced to watch in dismay. Isn't life like that sometimes? As you reflect upon your life you remember a simpler time and pace. When your child was small and so very innocent, now has grown so fast you can hardly keep pace. When once you were so eager and steadfast in your work . . . now seems to spiral into an endless array of deadlines, appointments, and higher quotas. Your faith too seems to lag behind. Oh, you've heard the Message several, maybe even hundreds of times, but you can't muster up enough faith even to pray . . . and another day goes by . . .
As a minister of the Gospel, I hear these and countless other "expressions" about people's lives. I have had many questions about my own faith, about the struggles of life on this side of heaven, about the many "whys" of life. This blog will be an attempt, through the working of the Holy Spirit, to point people and their lives back to God by looking at His Son Jesus the Messiah. We will look at how Jesus "dealt" with others in His lifetime . . . how He dealt with temptation . . . with sin and unbelief . . . with sorrow and pain . . . with joy and blessing.
My prayer is that you will join us on this spiritual journey together. There is no hidden agenda here for you to "pay" for something . . . to ask you to contribute money . . . to put you down and cut the knees out from you with some spiritual tongue lashing. NO . . . Good Shepherd Ministries is based on the belief that all people need Jesus Christ in their lives. Because we all go through the very same experiences and human emotions, we desperately seek Hope for our lives. That Hope is found in Christ.
If we are honest, we all still have questions about our faith . . . about our life. Through this blog, we will raise some of those questions and, together with other "guest" writers, attempt to provide answers to matters of faith. Together, we will look at Holy Scripture, read it, and allow the Holy Spirit to make sense of what is being revealed to us. We will do this together - as fellow believers . . . followers . . . disciples of Jesus Christ. For through Him and only through Him do we find The Answer to our life. Christ tells us He will "never leave us, never abandon us, never forsake us" -- that is a Promise! So, today and for all eternity, let us rest on His blessed assurance to us . . .
Your brother in Christ,
Jeff
" . . .But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:14-16 NIV
Boy, I really feel old and out of touch sometimes. Life seems to be passing by at a record pass and I am simply forced to watch in dismay. Isn't life like that sometimes? As you reflect upon your life you remember a simpler time and pace. When your child was small and so very innocent, now has grown so fast you can hardly keep pace. When once you were so eager and steadfast in your work . . . now seems to spiral into an endless array of deadlines, appointments, and higher quotas. Your faith too seems to lag behind. Oh, you've heard the Message several, maybe even hundreds of times, but you can't muster up enough faith even to pray . . . and another day goes by . . .
As a minister of the Gospel, I hear these and countless other "expressions" about people's lives. I have had many questions about my own faith, about the struggles of life on this side of heaven, about the many "whys" of life. This blog will be an attempt, through the working of the Holy Spirit, to point people and their lives back to God by looking at His Son Jesus the Messiah. We will look at how Jesus "dealt" with others in His lifetime . . . how He dealt with temptation . . . with sin and unbelief . . . with sorrow and pain . . . with joy and blessing.
My prayer is that you will join us on this spiritual journey together. There is no hidden agenda here for you to "pay" for something . . . to ask you to contribute money . . . to put you down and cut the knees out from you with some spiritual tongue lashing. NO . . . Good Shepherd Ministries is based on the belief that all people need Jesus Christ in their lives. Because we all go through the very same experiences and human emotions, we desperately seek Hope for our lives. That Hope is found in Christ.
If we are honest, we all still have questions about our faith . . . about our life. Through this blog, we will raise some of those questions and, together with other "guest" writers, attempt to provide answers to matters of faith. Together, we will look at Holy Scripture, read it, and allow the Holy Spirit to make sense of what is being revealed to us. We will do this together - as fellow believers . . . followers . . . disciples of Jesus Christ. For through Him and only through Him do we find The Answer to our life. Christ tells us He will "never leave us, never abandon us, never forsake us" -- that is a Promise! So, today and for all eternity, let us rest on His blessed assurance to us . . .
Your brother in Christ,
Jeff
" . . .But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:14-16 NIV
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)