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The Tougher Side of Jesus

How well do you know the Lord Jesus Christ?

The condition of the world that made the coming of Christ necessary was so bad that Jesus reached for shocking language to capture it. When people came asking for a sign he responded, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign". When his own disciples could not cast out demons he said, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?"

Not only did Jesus indict the world as evil and adulterous and unbelieving, he said that all were spiritually dead. When a disciple asked Jesus if he could go bury his father, Jesus shocked him with the words, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

Jesus did not flower over the truth. "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who will kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has the authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him."

Do not read Jesus selectively. Through out the New Testament, He says some very hard things to swallow. Humbly listen to ALL He has to say as you read the Word of God.

A Prayer:

"Lord, thicken our skin. Not that we be less tender, but that we be less easily offended. Take away our bent to self-pity. Give us a passion for the truth that is stronger than our inborn passion for being praised. Forgive us, Father, for calling words unloving just because they were tough. Forgive us for attributing malicious motives to people when we don't know their motives. Help us to learn from Jesus when to be tough and when to be tender. Guard us from justifying merely human anger with the hard sayings of Jesus. But, don't let us become so mushy that we can't speak a firm word in season.

We marvel at the words of our Lord Jesus. How unpredictable he was! No one ever spoke like He did. He is in a class by Himself.

We bow before Him and shut our mouths. We are eager for Him to speak--and to speak any way He pleases. We are silent listeners. He is the sinless teacher. We put our hands upon our mouths and take our place at His feet. Do with us as you please, Father. We are not your judge, nor the judge of how your Son speaks. Have mercy on us--tough or tender--and lead us to your everlasting joy. In the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus, amen."

Paraphrased from "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ" by John Piper

Comments

Donna said…
I bow my head with yours in reverance to our God.

He is worthy to be praised. We are merely His vessels to pour out His will.

And when emptied....He fills us once more to overflowing. Oh to be poured out for Him....as He was poured out for us.

D

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