Faith in Jesus changes priorities

In the era I grew up, people wrote letters. A few still do. I get mail from a friend far away who gives brief descriptions of what is going on in her life and family. Another friend writes Dear _______ letters with almost flowery descriptions of what she is doing, from moving furniture to going for walks. She obviously has a mailing list, filling in the name of each recipient. Sometimes her letters have personal notes at the side or in the margins.

I write letters at Christmas time to family and friends, and during the year to people far away who appreciate getting mail such as missionaries and grandchildren. Many years ago, one missionary couple said I sent more letters than their family did.

This was also the form of communication “in the fullness of time” when God sent Jesus to our world. I’m glad it was then and not now. The Word of God has endured in printed form for centuries. It is still a worldwide best-seller. Imagine how long phone calls, email, texts and twitter messages would last!

Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to pastors. Most of them were responses to problem situations in the churches. Some are personal in tone, even including non-theological asides such as . . .

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. (2 Timothy 4:13)

Even though this is not a doctrinal revelation, it does show the priorities of the man God used to write it.

Other books, Romans for instance, are more formal, almost like a thesis with a businesslike tone, yet it also has personal additions such as the greetings in the final chapter. They remind me of the add-ons my friend puts in her form letters. She wants me to know that I am thinking of her.

Paul’s letters feature doctrinal teaching and practical application using a variety of content. He was able to show how living for Christ applies to all of life, not merely a component to put in a box. This also reveals his priorities. He said for himself, to live is Christ and to die (and be with Christ) is gain!

This brings me back to his brief mention of his cloak, books and parchments. Asking for his cloak may indicate he was chilly. This man needed to take care of himself. He was getting older and needed to be wise; getting sick would not enable him to do the things God was asking him to do.

Added to that practical priority, his books and parchments were high on his list. They may have been copies of the Old Testament, but also could be blank writing materials. For Paul, both were vital. He studied and referred often to the OT Scriptures. He also wrote what God was revealing to him, sharing it with those under his care.

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Lord Jesus, very rarely do I write something that surprises me, but that last paragraph does it. I’m not inspired by You in the same way the NT writers were, nor is my content and application considered ‘Scripture’ but many years ago when I asked You what You wanted me to do regarding writing, You clearly told me to make public my daily devotional thoughts. I am awed at Your faithfulness. You always have something to say to my life and situations. Today, You are telling me to keep this activity on my priority list. The size of my audience is up to You as is their receptivity. My priority is to read and listen to You each day, to keep using what You give me in my own life, and to willingly share it with others. Thank You for this unexpected affirmation.

I spy God

Being a detail person, trying to see the big picture is a strain on my brain, however this month’s overview of the New Testament is helpful. It begins with four Gospels that are of different lengths. There are several ways of showing the way these books are organized to describe the life of Christ, but the chart I found yesterday helps my scrambled mind. It shows how each book is in sections or periods of: preparation, public ministry, suffering and triumph, big picture stuff.

Today I’m noticing differences in the lengths of these descriptions. Matthew is writing to the Jews, and Luke whose focus is on Jesus as a man, both describe the longest periods of preparation. In contrast, Mark who describes Jesus as a servant and John who focuses on Jesus as God both give far less description of His preparation for ministry. Is that significant? Does it suggest a pattern for Christians? Maybe in our humanness we need more time to prepare for Christian ministry? Being always filled with the Spirit could make a difference?

The big picture is that our fleshy nature has a desire to run things. It says, ‘I want what I want when I want it’ and those wants are to satisfy the desires of the flesh, the eyes and the pride of life. Interrupt me in that mode with a call to serve God in some way and it takes more than a few seconds to prepare to serve Him instead of myself.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16–18)

However, if I am filled with the Spirit all the time as Jesus was, then the call of God takes not much more than a quick, ‘help me with this, Lord’ prayer. Preparation is shorter because I am already relying on Him. This does not mean that Jesus had to learn this, but each gospel writer wanted to put emphasis on certain aspects of His life. The way He lived shows me all sorts of things about how I need to live. The emphasis used by each writer speaks to various areas of my own life, and this big picture view is rounded out by the rest of the NT. It says in many ways how I need to depend on Him all the time.

I also notice that John gives far more description to the period of Jesus’ suffering and of His triumph than the other writers do. Is that because he wants to emphasize what God has done for us and that we need to keep our minds on that and the results? Certainly that is a huge part of the rest of the NT too.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15–20)

This and many other passages are clear: Jesus Christ is the priority, the most important person in all of my life. He created all things and rules things. He gives meaning to life as He brings sinners to God by grace through faith. There is nothing more important than the fact of His death on the cross for sin and His resurrection by the supernatural power of God. He changes my life and my destiny.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:7–12)

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Jesus, the NT has more big picture and more details. However, my focus is to worship You, walking in the Spirit and giving no attention to the flesh, remembering all day what You have done and how much Your life has changed my life. You are all that I need for whatever comes my way and all that I need for eternity. Praise Your holy name.

The New Testament begins with a rock solid foundation . . .

If asked to describe another Christian, I’d ask a few questions. Are they walking in the Spirit and relying on God? Or have they ‘tipped’ over and trusting themselves? Or seeming to trust God but faking it? Or do I need to check myself — am I seeking certain traits that blind me to what I don’t want to see? On my own, this is a difficult task, yet with the aid of the Holy Spirit, I could be accurate.
 
The Holy Spirit was involved as writers described Jesus during His short life on earth. The New Testament Gospels contain four accounts. They sometimes overlap, are not always chronological, and do present distinct views. Jesus is not like us in that He has no dark side or pretense; He was and is sinless, certainly different from every other person. The NT says the Church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20) so it lays a foundation for the revelation of God with these four accounts.
 
Matthew introduces Jesus Christ as “King of the Jews” and their Messiah. This book points to the fulfillment of many OT prophecies and an emphasis on Christ’s teaching for the Jews, His ability to heal and cast out demons, and blocks of teaching like the Sermon on the Mount (which includes the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer), His Parables and the Olivet Discourse. Matthew tells of conflict between Jesus and religious leaders whom He warns with “seven woes” but they put Him to death. After His resurrection, Jesus gives 
His disciples the Great Commission. 

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)

Mark pictures Jesus as the “Servant of the Lord” attentive to His Father’s work, His activities among the disciples, the crowds, and the religious leaders. None of them understood Him. In the end, the religious leaders arrested Him, the disciples abandoned Him, and the crowds jeered Him. Mark points out that only when Jesus died alone on the cross did a Roman centurion recognize that He was the Son of God.
 
Luke portrays Jesus as “the Son of Man” — the perfect representative of humanity who gave His life “to seek and to save that which was lost.” It was written as a letter to Theophilus after author Luke, a physician, carefully investigated all the facts. He tells of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection showing He lived as a man in the power of the Holy Spirit with great compassion for the poor and downtrodden.
 
John presents Jesus as the “the Son of God” and the eternal Word who became flesh to reveal God to us. John tells of many personal contacts that changed the lives of those who realized His identity and received eternal life. John focuses on seven miracles to show that Jesus is God and seven “I am” statements. This book includes the most well-known summary of the gospel:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

The Gospel of John was written to persuade people to believe in Jesus:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

While all the Bible is God’s love letter to me, John’s Gospel is a favorite book. As a new Christian, I was told to read it five times, but before that I already knew who Jesus is, for He walked into my life with that revelation from the Holy Spirit. Reading John’s book affirms that understanding and fills me with great joy. Not only do I know the God who created all things, but that same God came to earth, died for my sin, rose from the dead, and now lives in my heart, making me a temple of His Holy Spirit. He takes care of me just as He cared for people while He walked this earth.
 
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Lord Jesus, no matter what facet of Your life shines light into my heart, all of it is like a diamond, precious and without flaw. You are Lord of all, lovely and full of grace and truth. Thank You for coming, for living, for dying, for living again and forever to love and intercede for this poor sinner.