Who is Christ

In America, there is a Jesus for every occasion. There is a thumbs up, Buddy Jesus a Redneck Jesus, a tattooed Jesus which are very common images. We have designed him to be everything that suits our needs. We have created a Jesus to support just about every cause that we can think of. So let me ask you, who is Christ to you? Is Christ just your buddy? Is he someone, as the children’s song puts it, you keep in a little white box? Is he someone you just celebrate with on Sunday? 

I ask who is Jesus, because our response to him in our life is dependent on who we claim him to be. If he is just a buddy or casual in our life then we don’t really need to care how we respond to him. However, if we understand who he is, not just our friend, comforter, and personal assistant, but who he really is, I guarantee, our response would be radically different.  Colossians 1:15-20 gives a wonderful description of who Christ is. He is the image of God, the first born of creation, the creator, the redeemer, and the head. Think about that, the Creator, the person who made us, came down and redeemed us. He paid for us, he rescued us from ourselves. He gave up all the comforts of Heaven to come down to Earth for us. Think about that like this, look around your house, the heat/ac, electricity, indoor plumbing, groceries, etc. Now, image that you  are to give it all up and go live in a desolate place, no plumbing, no electricity, all the comforts are gone and you have to stay like this for thirty-three years. That is what Christ essentially did for us. He did so out of love for us. 

Again I ask you, who is Jesus to you? I urge you if for you he is just a novelty, that you take time to get to know him. I gave you the passage above to start with, after that ready the book of John, get to know who this Christ is. I promise again, it will change your life.

Teach me your ways

Today, I have finished reading the most important book that I have read in the last six years of training. It was not any of the theology or commentaries that I have worked with. It was not any of the language tools. While all of those have been beneficial in my training to become a pastor they all lacked something. There was never a connection between the academia of learning and real world application. No the book I read designed for someone like me. It was Eugene Peterson’s book The Pastor. This book is his memoir of how he became a pastor and what meant for him. While reading though, I not only gained insight to his life and walk as a pastor, but was able to reflect on who do I want to be as a pastor, and how have I viewed the pastors in my life. 

There are several things that I could share from his book, but there is one theme that I think applies to everyone. That is our walk is often an haphazard journey. I have found that true in my own life. My desire to be a pastor is not something I dreamed of, instead it was a pursuit by God, guiding me to this point. As I talk to others I often find that how they arrive to doing their ministries or life now is not what they dreamed of when they were younger. In others, I find that they are busy wanting to plan every detail and struggle with God in their walk and control. My wife stumbled across Proverbs 16:9 in her grappling with letting God take control.

 Recently, I found Psalm 25:4-5: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” I read this as I was reading Peterson’s book and realized that as I was preparing to graduate I  was starting to make my own plans and needed to step back. I need to make sure that God was in control. I urge all of us to do that. Those two verses have been a daily prayer for me the last few weeks. I would urge anyone to join me in that prayer. Let God teach us his ways, his paths. We know that God is our salvation and anything he has for us is so much greater than anything we can dream of. I also recommend that anyone read Peterson’s book for the insight that it offers into the heart of a pastor. 

Fear Not!

Change is an inevitable part of life. We are going to have change occur, but often times, it is one the biggest fears we have. Most of us have spent our lives making ourselves comfortable. We make sure we have the plan in mind. We have our goals laid out. And then something comes along and disrupts our “perfect little world.” It could be any number of things, like falling in love or becoming ill. Whatever the change is, it throws a wrench in our plans. We often have a hard time of wanting to let go of our plans and let the change happen.

Such an event was occurring during the Exodus. The Israelites left Egypt and hit a road block, the sea. Pharaoh was chasing after the Israelites, and fear set in. They complained that they were led out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. But Moses answered: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. (Exodus 14:13a).

That simple message is as relevant for us today, as it was for the people then. When the world is changing around us. When we are in the midst of fear, we need to remember to that God is in control. We need not fear, but watch steadfast as God works out his will. I know that often times that is hard to do,  but I also know that God’s plans are always better than my own. I encourage you that if you are going change, do not look  at it as a fear, but with anticipation for how God works in your life.