Changing externals and environments can be helpful, but real, lasting change begins at a heart level and branches out from there.
Guardrails help us stay on the road. External controls can be helpful. Go deeper. Ask God to reveal the blind spots that are blocking His work in our lives. Then ask for His help to create in us a new heart.
(For deeper study, read Psalm 139 and Psalm 51)
Have you ever wondered why Jesus dwelled on earth for more than thirty years?
I’m not so much asking why Jesus came, although that is an interesting study. Today, I’m asking why Jesus stayed!
Can you imagine for a moment, if you or I lived in the amazing splendor of heaven and had to leave it for a special mission? That might be hard to imagine. Think of leaving the beauty of the Italian Riviera (coast and beaches) to go to on a mission to Newark, NJ. Then multiply both by a thousand. Wouldn’t you want to get back as quickly as possible?
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If you can stretch your imagination far enough to imagine that you were the Messiah (don’t stay there too long or they’ll say you have a complex). If we were called on to save mankind, wouldn’t you pack a carry-on bag? You know, get in… get the job done…get out…back to our comfort zone.
Sometimes we can be so “bottom line” oriented that we can miss the real point.
Some manufacturing organizations have people who check for quality. I remember asking my uncle if he had quality control checks. His reply was automatic. “You don’t check for quality. You put it in in the first place!” The point was if you create a process that leads to the desired outcome, reinforce the process then you’ll get the right product. Keep that in mind, we’ll come back to it.
I see so many people struggling to find their purpose in life. They’re asking, where do I fit in? What’s my role in this world?
We are considering the questions of Why did Jesus come? And more so, why did he stay? The next logical question might be, “Why are we still here?” If I am truly saved, why doesn’t God just take us up to Heaven right away?
How do we begin answering a question like that? May I suggest that by examining times when Jesus said why he came, what he commanded, and what he commissioned while he was physically present, we can begin to see what he wants to accomplish through us?
(Note: I plan to write about the Great Commandment in the next post. Today, I want to focus on three areas.)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matt 9:35–36
When people looked at Jesus, they saw someone who cared deeply about them and their situation. While modeling holiness, the only people who felt judged where those who trusted in their own righteousness. The ones who felt that Jesus wasn’t quite religious enough.
When people look into our eyes, do they sense love or judgment?
How can we show them Jesus means LOVE?
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mat 20:25–28
Contrast the two philosophies. What’s in it for me? How can I help? Which one do we really live by…in the marketplace? at work? at Church? at home?
Would those who are closest to us say that we model servanthood? What are some ways we can develop a servant’s heart?
Jesus said to (Zacchaeus the Tax Collector), “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10–11
Think about that for a bit. Jesus came to SEEK. Jesus was very pro-active as he sought out those in need. He covered an amazing territory on foot.
Jesus came to SAVE. He endured great pains to secure salvation for you and me.
In John 20:21, Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Essentially, Jesus is saying, I gave you an example to follow. God has a mission for you to accomplish. Matthew records Jesus’ words to the original Disciples (and to us), “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations ….
As we call ourselves Christ followers, it’s time to ask, “Am I really following Christ?” “Am I doing the things he would do if he were physically here?”
How do we respond to opportunities to represent or share Christ?
Do we…
If we are to grow more and more like Christ, how are we doing in the process? Are we still expecting God to one day to magically turn us into a fully sanctified Christ-follower like the proverbial magician pulling a rabbit out of the hat? Or are we committed to the process o growing in Christlikeness?
You might continue this study on your own. Grab your favorite Bible app, software, or even a paper concordance and search for times when Jesus says, “I came to …”. Or instances where the Epistle writers said, “Jesus came to …” Please share your results in the comments below.
