Let it be said of us...

So I was listening to the song "The Blessing" by John Waller on my way home.  The main point of the song is basically: What will people say of us as Christians? and will we choose to be a blessing or a curse to those around us. Such a great question, especially asking a "Christian Nation" like our own.  Ghandi has been quotes saying he likes our Christ but not our Christians.  I've heard from many more saying similar statements, presenting the fact that if we are claiming to love Jesus, it sure isn't coming out by how we live. Paul sums up pretty well in Philippians 2:1-14 how we as Christians should live.

A while back I remember being asked the question "What do you want people to say of you when you die?" I think most of us would settle for the good person spiel. But as a Christian is this our aim, to receive glory to ourselves when we die? I cant imagine what people like the Apostles, C.S. Lewis, and other notable Christian men would say to our attributing glory to them rather than the One they spent their lives proclaiming. In Isaiah 41:10-12 God states: 
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last..."


Upon thinking about the things that make up what a "real" Christian is, I think there is one characteristic. Jesus exuded it. When asked about how to pray Jesus got right to the point! "Our Father, who art in heaven, HALLOWED BE THY NAME..." Its clear reading what Paul says about Jesus, and what God says in Isaiah, all Glory is to our Great Father. Everything we do is for His glory, Every change we have seen was for His glory, not our own; and he is clear "...My glory I will not give to another..." 


To conclude Matt Chandler in a sermon I recently heard presented the problem of praising God being dependent mostly because off things He has done.  While this is a major part of worship, what about praising Him solely because of who He is!!! Because of His Glory! Because He is the First and Last! Because His name is Hallowed! Admiring someone for things they have done, while it does add admiration, wont create a genuine love - What happens if they stop performing or their ability doesn't reflect their personality?

As for what I would like people to say of me when I die? I think the song sums this up well:
"Let it be said of us, that our hearts belong to Jesus..."

Contagious Jesus

When you look at the different accounts of Jesus healing people in the Gospels its crazy to see how Jesus reacts to each person differently. He doesn't just heal the person, he meets a need as well. On top of it all you see him also taking their Sin problem more seriously than their health issue.  The last couple weeks at club I've used two stories most everyone has heard: the healing of the Leper, and the bleeding woman. Upon doing research, looking at the scriptures, and just trying to discern things from them here are some insights:

1) Mark 1:40-45

Here we begin with the Leper begging Jesus.  Sounds like something a Leper would do, right? Wrong. The craziest aspect of this story is the Leper runs up to Jesus, falls at his feet, and begs him - "If your willing...."  Because of his condition BY LAW Jesus could kill the man if he wished. It was unlawful for a Leper to come within 30-40 feet of anyone, let alone a Rabbi. So immediately we see this man was incredibly confident in what Jesus could do.  Next Jesus' response, which is even more crazy! It says filled with compassion.... Which also in other manuscripts it translates almost to "Jesus was angered" - Not at the man, but probably translated as anger towards the temple priests for ignoring him. Nevertheless they believe the translation is closest to compassion. But finally Jesus reaches out and touches him, and says the words the Leper would never have imagined Jesus to say: "I AM WILLING! BE CLEAN!"  Be clean for your Leprosy is gone. Be clean for your Sin is gone. and perhaps the most radical thing of all, JESUS TOUCHES THE MAN! Probably the first "normal" contact the man had ever received! In a sermon mentioning this story the pastor says "This was not a different kind of man, but a different kind of God."

2) Luke 8:40-48

This story is perhaps my favorite. To quickly unpack Jesus is on his way (In the midst of thousands pressing him) to heal the synagogue ruler's daughter - note this was a man of above average importance. This is when the story kicks in, in the midst of the crowd is a woman "subject to bleeding" - this would have put her on the level of the leper or "unclean". She has spent everything for healing but become worse. So when she hears of Jesus some desperation inside her compels her to find him. Then we find the obstacle - thousands of people who, should they find out she is unclean, would do their level best to kill her given her vicinity.  Yet, in her weakened state, not even the crowds hold her back from pushing through and touching Jesus' cloak.  Then Jesus, as was his fashion, calls her out "Who touched my cloak?" - This is the defining moment. In her mind I could only imagine her thinking "Once I say something he will condemn me (as the law would have made lawful) " The rocks would begin flying and she would be history. But Jesus does something else. "Daughter, your faith has healed you..." Your sins are forgiven! Your conditioned healed. DAUGHTER! The absolute weight of him calling her Daughter is incredible. A title she would have been sent out of by her own father, a title that implies OWNERSHIP! She is adopted into the kingdom.

Bringing the two together there is one other theme. In the midst of both of these there is the idea that their uncleanliness is transmitted by touch. Yet when they touch Jesus, He is transmitted to them. Instead of death being given, they receive life. This is Jesus! The God of the Universe! How do we know God so loved the world? BECAUSE OF JESUS!