Greetings,
We are living in a time where the views and expectations of people are being given in diverse ways. As leaders in the Body of Christ we are challenged to lead people to the truth of the testimony of Christ. All things are common to men and all men have experienced common weaknesses and strengths. It is both the weaknesses and the strengths of humanity that connects us in a common word that needs God’s mercy and grace.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Humanity was created in the likeness and the image of God. To discover the reality of that identity, testimony, and destiny we must find our connection to God as our Father. We must be sons and daughters of God, not just people in a family of man. We must discover the secret to becoming and living as the family of God.
Are we united by our humanity? Our primary connection must be to God. Only Christ in us is the hope of glory. When we are united by His divinity, He unites us in our humanity. When we are merely united in our humanity we are united in our pain or united in our human strength. When we are united by His greatness we soon realize that all the enemies to our humanity are mere grasshoppers in His sight. Christ is the center, not man.
The Jesus way without Jesus is simply kind humanism. We need Jesus more than we need the Jesus way. We need Jesus as both Lord and Christ. The evidence of our connection to Christ will be the Jesus way, but the life and the power of life can only come from Christ.
noun
- the doctrine that people’s duty is to promote human welfare 🔗
- syn:humanitarianism
- the doctrine emphasizing a person’s capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural 🔗
- syn:secular humanism
- the cultural movement of the Renaissance; based on classical studies
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Humanism is a seductive force the denies a dependence upon the supernatural power of God’s grace. We come to Him by His mercy and we too become merciful, but the Lamb empowers a Lion to every enemy of the likeness and image of God in our lives. The Lamb empowers an ox, a creature of service, for the worship of our Creator. The Lamb empowers new creations, born again believers in Christ, to make themselves of no reputation and come with a face like a man to their fellow man. The Lamb empowers an Eagle that is led by the God’s Spirit and Word in all things, thus obtaining victory over the weakness of the flesh and becoming one that others can follow in Christ. God’s grace empowers us to become what we were meant to be in Christ. Without God’s grace we cannot receive the heavenly inheritance God desires to bring into our lives.
Acts 2:32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Jesus, as the Lamb, is the testimony of mercy. The Lion, Ox, Face of a Man, and Eagle are the testimonies of God’s grace working in our lives. These are the overcoming attributes of God’s grace working in our lives. God’s mercy embraces us with God’s love in our humanity. God’s grace empowers us by God’s divinity to become like Him in this world. Christ in us is the hope of this glory! He is the hope of heavenly things being expressed in our world through His Holy Spirit at work in our lives.
As leaders we must lead God’s people in receiving God’s mercy. The love of God comes to us all through the Lamb and we show love to others through that same attribute. He offers us mercy that we might be merciful to others. The power of God’s love also inspires us to find God’s grace to become as He would have us be in all things. We must lead to inspire all to find God’s grace working in their lives.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
#christinyou #Jesusislord #christthecenter
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Please consider helping us by your continued prayer support and any financial contribution you are able to give. We are reaching the nations with New Covenant life and Grace for the generations of tomorrow.
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