Who is Jesus? #81 (From the Apocalypse)

The first thing that grabbed John's attention about Jesus was "the voice." "On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet"(Revelation 1:10)" Then he reacted to that voice. "I turned and around to see the voice..."(Revelation 1:12).
The voice of Jesus caught John's attention though at the moment he heard it he may not have realized whose voice it was. "A loud voice like a trumpet" would certainly attracts my attention.
In John's day, a trumpet was usually used for some type of signal or announcement. The king arrives and a trumpet or trumpets sound. The army attacks or retreats and the trumpet blares out the appropriate signal.
In John's case maybe the trumpeting voice was doing both. This certainly announced the presence of The King of Kings! Jesus was right there and that fact needed to be brought to John's attention. Turn around, John, and look who it is that the trumpet is announcing. It is Jesus, your king!
So many of us respond to the voice of Jesus in so many different ways. However, no one responds with indifference. Some come to Jesus at the sound of His voice and some run away from Him.
The writer of Hebrews, quoting from the Psalmist, David, says "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7). You see, some reject Jesus when they hear His voice.
Jesus said that there will come a time "when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of Man and those who hear will live" (John 5:25).
A voice that brings life to some and breeds rejection and hearts of stone in others.
I pray that I may hear and have life.

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #80 (From the Apocalypse)

John received in his vision recorded in the first chapter of Revelation, a picture of Jesus that is so powerful, so awesome and so frightening that he "fell down as though dead." This image of Christ is fresh on my mind, because we began a study of Revelation 4 weeks ago and just now made it through chapter one.
Everything, it appears, that we ever learned about Jesus from the rest of the New Testament is incorporated into this image that is in the middle of the seven golden lampstands. Here is what John saw as recorded in Revelation 1:12-18.

12. I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when
I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13. and among the lampstands
was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his
feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14. His head and hair were
white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
15. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the
sound of rushing waters. 16. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of
his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining
in all its brilliance. 17. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then
he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and
the Last. 18. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever
and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

I have to dig into this passage and see what all of these symbols mean as they apply to my Lord and Savior. After reading this and meditating on it, why am I still sitting in this chair? Why have I not fallen on the floor of my office as if I were dead? Could it be I have never really died to self?

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #79 (No one like Him)

Jesus, lover of my soul.

Jesus, I will never let you go.

You've taken me from the miry clay

Set my feet upon a rock and now I know.

I love you

I need you

Though my world will fall

I'll never let you go.

My savior, my friend

I will worship you until the very end

There is so much to say about the one and only Jesus. This is the song (done by Darlene Zschech) that is currently playing in my office as I work through several things as this work week begins. The song speaks of so many things Jesus has done for me, and my response to those things. He "loves my soul," has taken me from...and set my feet...," "my Savior, my friend." He is all that and more. He has done for me what He promised to do.

How have I responded. The song says "I love you, I need you," "I'll never let you go," and "I will worship you until the very end."

Are these just mindless words coming out of my mouth or do they reflect the life of commitment to the Savior that I so desperately want to live.

Jesus, thank you for being the, "Lover of my soul."

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #78 (No one like Him)

No other religion that I can think of has a Savior. Many have martyrs. Almost all have prophets - a long line of prophets. Hundreds, maybe thousands, have modern day teachers/scholars/heralds/proponents. No one has a Savior except Christians. He was more that just a good man, though "He went around doing good (Acts 10:38)." He was a potent teacher, "He taught as one who had authority, (Matthew 7:29). Even the woman at the well could see that He was a prophet (John 4:19). If His death didn't save us, then he would only have been a martyr. He would have given his life for his cause. BUT HE DIDN'T! He gave His life for my cause! "I serve a risen Savior" as the old song goes. Prophets are great. Teachers are needed. Martyrs are admired (by some). But a Savior -- a Savior changes things. No, a Savior changes me! Hallelujah, what a Savior! Be Strong and Courageous, L.T.

Who is Jesus? #77 (No one like Him)

Certainly, no one loved like Jesus loved. Of course He was a direct reflection of His father and "God is love! (I John 4:8)." To reflect God is to reflect His love; and, "God so loved the world...... (John 3:16)."
The uniqueness of all of this is how Jesus showed that love. Jesus wept at the tomb of his dear friend, Lazarus, and the people repsonded with, "See how He loved him! (John 11:36)."
The words of Jesus in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Jesus lived the very words that He spoke. If dying for your friends is the greatest expression of love and Jesus died for me, than I say, "Look, see how He loved me!"
We look into the scriptures and see how He loved his family. He obviously loved His friends. He loved those twelve, sometimes disappointing, disciples. He loved the woman at the well. He loved Zacchaeus. He loved the woman caught in adultery. He loved the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
No one fell outside of the love of Christ.
But he didn't stand on top of mountain or a tall building and yell through a bull horn, "I love you!" Instead it was on top of a garbage heap, nailed to a rough and rugged cross. When He said, "It is finished," I can almost hear Him say, "See, I told you I love you."
No greater love for someone like me.

Be Strong and Courageous,
L.T.

Who is Jesus? #76 (No one like Him)

No one but no one had the "reach" of Jesus. For some reason an old song is going through my mind this afternoon. "Reach out to Jesus." The song has two really powerful verses and then comes the refrain:
"He is always there hearing every prayer, faithful and true.
Walking by His side, in His love we hide all the day through.
When you get discouraged, just remember what to do;
Reach out to Jesus. He's reaching out to you."
Those last five words are what get me. They are the summary of who Jesus is. He is reaching out to you/me. I see Him reaching out to the very young and the very old. I see Him reach out to the popular and the rejected. He reaches out to the intelligent and unlearned. He reached out to both blue collar and white collar workers. He reached out to the super-religious and to those ignorant of God. He reached out to the proud and to the lowly. His reach was to the happy and to "those that mourn." I see Him reaching for those who were alone and those who had a plethora of friends. He reaches to the kings as well as to the shepherds. He reaches out to the tax collector and well as to the governor.
No one escapes His reaching, but have I, in turn, reached out to Him?
Please, Lord, keep on reaching, I will take hold.

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.