Come In For A Cup Of Comfort (3)
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Awesome Praise Report tonight!!
In response to the prayer request asked for by Becka in the other thread....
I've been waiting since the middle of Feb for a refund from when I paid full price for my meds cause I didn;t have my card for my ins. yet...January and 1/2 of Feb...well I got a call this afternoon that tomorrow morning I can pick up almost 140 at the pharmacy...
I knew it was suppose to be more than that but was happy with that
Well tonight Shawn came in and handed me the mail...and there was a check for the other 100.... can you say PRAISE GOD?!!!!
And Shawn and I signed the final papers releasing Wal Mart and the last letter is on it's way as I type this to the Lawyers office which will release a little over 3600... AMEN and Thank You Jesus and Praise God
And thank each and every one of you for your Prayers!
Love you all!
In response to the prayer request asked for by Becka in the other thread....
I've been waiting since the middle of Feb for a refund from when I paid full price for my meds cause I didn;t have my card for my ins. yet...January and 1/2 of Feb...well I got a call this afternoon that tomorrow morning I can pick up almost 140 at the pharmacy...
I knew it was suppose to be more than that but was happy with that
Well tonight Shawn came in and handed me the mail...and there was a check for the other 100.... can you say PRAISE GOD?!!!!
And Shawn and I signed the final papers releasing Wal Mart and the last letter is on it's way as I type this to the Lawyers office which will release a little over 3600... AMEN and Thank You Jesus and Praise God
And thank each and every one of you for your Prayers!
Love you all!
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Hi Nobella,
Hi, how is your evening!
I just noticed you go to Time Square Church....I am far from NY but I just wanted to say I am encouraged and challenged by D.Wilkersons messages...listen to them in my car and read his stuff at work...God is working thru him thats for sure...
real encouraging...
God bless you
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CrystalHeart
It's All About You, Jesus
postin dome devotions for mom cuz she's not feelin good
she has another sinus infection n a cold
*************************************
she has another sinus infection n a cold
*************************************
When you follow what you love in life, challenges
can be tough because the stakes are high. You set
your whole heart on reaching your goal and you
want, so badly, to succeed!
It's not always easy. But, doing what you love
means that, each morning, you awaken with
passion and excitement at your core.
It means you're finding hidden strengths you didn't
know you possessed. And, you're equipped to get
over obstacles and disappointments with grace.
Most of all, it means no regrets. No matter what,
you're living an exciting life, doing what you were
born to do.
can be tough because the stakes are high. You set
your whole heart on reaching your goal and you
want, so badly, to succeed!
It's not always easy. But, doing what you love
means that, each morning, you awaken with
passion and excitement at your core.
It means you're finding hidden strengths you didn't
know you possessed. And, you're equipped to get
over obstacles and disappointments with grace.
Most of all, it means no regrets. No matter what,
you're living an exciting life, doing what you were
born to do.
Upvote
0
CrystalHeart
It's All About You, Jesus
When the big positive things are compelling enough, you'll hardly notice the little negative things. When your focus is on accomplishing what is truly meaningful and significant, then the everyday distractions and annoyances become quite insignificant by comparison.
In every moment, your focus is on one thing or another. When you can stay focused on the good and positive things that mean the most to you, the little annoyances have no way to bring you down.
Why waste your time and energy worrying and fretting about things that really don't matter that much? Instead, direct your focus toward creating value for yourself, for those around you and for the world in which you live.
Sure, you'll need to take care of the little annoying problems and distractions as they come along. And that will go much more smoothly, without anger, resentment, worry or frustration, when your primary focus is on the big picture. Stop letting all the little things bring you down. Focus instead on the best you can imagine, and let that positive vision pull you forward.
In every moment, your focus is on one thing or another. When you can stay focused on the good and positive things that mean the most to you, the little annoyances have no way to bring you down.
Why waste your time and energy worrying and fretting about things that really don't matter that much? Instead, direct your focus toward creating value for yourself, for those around you and for the world in which you live.
Sure, you'll need to take care of the little annoying problems and distractions as they come along. And that will go much more smoothly, without anger, resentment, worry or frustration, when your primary focus is on the big picture. Stop letting all the little things bring you down. Focus instead on the best you can imagine, and let that positive vision pull you forward.
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CrystalHeart
It's All About You, Jesus
Your job today is to change the world, and to do it in your own special way. Your job today is to move the world closer to the best it can be by pushing yourself toward the best you can be.
The world will be different at the end of the day because of the way you have lived. The world will change during this day because of the thoughts you have focused upon and the actions you have taken.
There is no one else who can do your job for you. There is no one else who can give to life the unique value that you're able to give.
It is an awesome responsibility and a magnificent opportunity. For the more you give of yourself, the more life will resemble the best vision you have for it.
That is your job today, to give the best of what you have and to truly make life better for the effort. Do that job well, and the rewards will be rich indeed.
Ralph Marston
The world will be different at the end of the day because of the way you have lived. The world will change during this day because of the thoughts you have focused upon and the actions you have taken.
There is no one else who can do your job for you. There is no one else who can give to life the unique value that you're able to give.
It is an awesome responsibility and a magnificent opportunity. For the more you give of yourself, the more life will resemble the best vision you have for it.
That is your job today, to give the best of what you have and to truly make life better for the effort. Do that job well, and the rewards will be rich indeed.
Ralph Marston
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CrystalHeart
It's All About You, Jesus
As I was sitting here praising the Lord for
the new day, I looked outside at the sky.
Yesterday, it was dark and gloomy all day,
threatening rain, and cold and blustery.
Today the skies have cleared, and although
still rather cold for this area, it is beautiful
outside. I see spring approaching,
with the gathering birds and the eggs they
are now waiting to hatch. The trees blossoming
with the promise of fruit in it's season.
My flowers prospering and shining their faces
toward the sun. Oh how beautiful to behold
God's creation!
So from one day to the next, the sky may
be dark and stormy, but it will clear, and there
will be a new day. And so it is with our problems,
weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in
the morning.
There is always hope, there are always the promises
of God to rely on. God is not limited by our thinking
or perception of Him. If God be for us, who or what
can stand against us? Nothing!
All things are possible through Christ!
May the God of your hope so fill you with all
joy and peace in believing (through the experience
of your faith) that ... you may abound and be
overflowing ... with hope.
Romans 15:13
Today is a new day ... receive the joy of it,
savor it. It will not pass this way again.
the new day, I looked outside at the sky.
Yesterday, it was dark and gloomy all day,
threatening rain, and cold and blustery.
Today the skies have cleared, and although
still rather cold for this area, it is beautiful
outside. I see spring approaching,
with the gathering birds and the eggs they
are now waiting to hatch. The trees blossoming
with the promise of fruit in it's season.
My flowers prospering and shining their faces
toward the sun. Oh how beautiful to behold
God's creation!
So from one day to the next, the sky may
be dark and stormy, but it will clear, and there
will be a new day. And so it is with our problems,
weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in
the morning.
There is always hope, there are always the promises
of God to rely on. God is not limited by our thinking
or perception of Him. If God be for us, who or what
can stand against us? Nothing!
All things are possible through Christ!
May the God of your hope so fill you with all
joy and peace in believing (through the experience
of your faith) that ... you may abound and be
overflowing ... with hope.
Romans 15:13
Today is a new day ... receive the joy of it,
savor it. It will not pass this way again.
Upvote
0
CrystalHeart
It's All About You, Jesus
We Get What We Say
Author: Olabisi Ibidapo
I believe we get what we say because God honors His word and His word says that “who so ever believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass…shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mark 11:23). In spite of the fact that I was familiar with these well-known biblical quotation it had somehow never occurred to me that the promise, in (Mark 11: 23) “he shall have whatsoever he saith, “ was a two-edged sword it could work for me or it could work against me, depending on what I said.
I constantly used phrases like “I can’t, and I afraid,” when God’s word told me “I can “and Fear not.” My words were out of harmony with God’s word; I was disagreeing with the Lord until God reveal this unto me.
Brethren, can two works together except they agree? Ask Amos 3:3. I discovered that I could never walk with God in blessing, triumph and abundant supply as long as I disagreed with God’s word. So here was the secret; I had to agree with the Lord. I have to say what God said about my life. I needed to say what He said about my health, my finances, my strength, my anointing, and my power, about all of the blessings he had promised me in His Word.
Praise God, I and my husband Mike really tormented with the example below until God delivered us. It is true that if you believe what you are saying, what you say is what you get. If you say, ‘I can’t pay my bills,” for instance, you won’t be able to pay your bills even though God’s word says that “My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:19). But if you change your negative way of speaking and thinking based on God’s promise to supply, you will receive the financial miracle you need. To help you overcome any habit of negative speaking, it may help if you can start this. “My Never again List.” This really helps me.
My Never Again List:
· Never again will I confess “I can’t. For “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me” (Philippians 4:13)
· Never again will I confess lack for “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 19)
· Never again will I confess fear for God hath not given me “the sprit of fear but of power and love and of sound mind.” (2 Tim 1: 7)
· Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith for God hath given to “every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
· Never again will I confess weakness for the Lord is the strength of my life. (Psalm 27:1) and, “The people that know their God shall be strong and exploits.” (Daniel 11: 32)
· Never again will I confess supremacy of Satan over my life, “Greater is He that is within me that he that is in the world.” (1 john 4:4)
· Never again will I confess defeat for God always caused me to “triumph in Christ Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
· Never again will I confess lack of wisdom for Christ Jesus is “made unto me wisdom from God.” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
· Never again will I confess sickness, for “With His stripes I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) and Jesus Himself took my “infirmities and bare my sickness.” (Matthew 8:17)
· Never again will I confess worries and frustrations for I am “casting all my cares upon who careth for me” (1 Peter 5:7). In Christ I am care –free.
· Never again will I confess bondage for where the spirit of “God is there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17). My body is the temple of Holy Spirit.
· Never Again will I confess condemnation for there is “therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8: 1). I am in Christ; therefore I am free from condemnation.
So there fore brethren God honors His word, be in harmony with God and see your self the way God sees you in His word.
God Bless you all and love to all.
Author: Olabisi Ibidapo
I believe we get what we say because God honors His word and His word says that “who so ever believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass…shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mark 11:23). In spite of the fact that I was familiar with these well-known biblical quotation it had somehow never occurred to me that the promise, in (Mark 11: 23) “he shall have whatsoever he saith, “ was a two-edged sword it could work for me or it could work against me, depending on what I said.
I constantly used phrases like “I can’t, and I afraid,” when God’s word told me “I can “and Fear not.” My words were out of harmony with God’s word; I was disagreeing with the Lord until God reveal this unto me.
Brethren, can two works together except they agree? Ask Amos 3:3. I discovered that I could never walk with God in blessing, triumph and abundant supply as long as I disagreed with God’s word. So here was the secret; I had to agree with the Lord. I have to say what God said about my life. I needed to say what He said about my health, my finances, my strength, my anointing, and my power, about all of the blessings he had promised me in His Word.
Praise God, I and my husband Mike really tormented with the example below until God delivered us. It is true that if you believe what you are saying, what you say is what you get. If you say, ‘I can’t pay my bills,” for instance, you won’t be able to pay your bills even though God’s word says that “My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:19). But if you change your negative way of speaking and thinking based on God’s promise to supply, you will receive the financial miracle you need. To help you overcome any habit of negative speaking, it may help if you can start this. “My Never again List.” This really helps me.
My Never Again List:
· Never again will I confess “I can’t. For “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me” (Philippians 4:13)
· Never again will I confess lack for “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 19)
· Never again will I confess fear for God hath not given me “the sprit of fear but of power and love and of sound mind.” (2 Tim 1: 7)
· Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith for God hath given to “every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
· Never again will I confess weakness for the Lord is the strength of my life. (Psalm 27:1) and, “The people that know their God shall be strong and exploits.” (Daniel 11: 32)
· Never again will I confess supremacy of Satan over my life, “Greater is He that is within me that he that is in the world.” (1 john 4:4)
· Never again will I confess defeat for God always caused me to “triumph in Christ Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
· Never again will I confess lack of wisdom for Christ Jesus is “made unto me wisdom from God.” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
· Never again will I confess sickness, for “With His stripes I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) and Jesus Himself took my “infirmities and bare my sickness.” (Matthew 8:17)
· Never again will I confess worries and frustrations for I am “casting all my cares upon who careth for me” (1 Peter 5:7). In Christ I am care –free.
· Never again will I confess bondage for where the spirit of “God is there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17). My body is the temple of Holy Spirit.
· Never Again will I confess condemnation for there is “therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8: 1). I am in Christ; therefore I am free from condemnation.
So there fore brethren God honors His word, be in harmony with God and see your self the way God sees you in His word.
God Bless you all and love to all.
Upvote
0
- Jun 3, 2006
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Have you thought much lately about the
word "light"? I was thinking about it this
morning. Let me give you an example
of the concept that came to mind.
Light and Darkness have profound differences.
Most of us take these for granted. We turn
on a light switch and voila ... we have light.
Simple isn't it?
But if you have darkness and cannot find
the light, it can cause many different and
rather profound thoughts in you. The
longer you are in the dark and wakeful
the more you can multiply that thinking.
Fear, despair, worry and anxiety can become
your companions.
But if you open a door, and the light
slowly inches across the room, filling each
corner and every object is reflecting that light,
it floods the room and shatters
the darkness, it changes your perspective.
Somehow it seems safer, more familiar,
more restful.
This is what our spiritual life is like.
We can only walk in as much light as we have
opened up to. And if we are not open to it,
you can be sure, it isn't there! God doesn't push
himself upon us, we must welcome and receive Him,
and allow him "place" in us. When He comes
to dwell all the dark places are no longer hidden,
and those things which are harmful, bad for us,
not needful he sheds light upon. He says
my child, get rid of this, let go of that, clean
up this. And then He teaches us steps to do it.
This comes through faithful reading of
God's word which sheds light on every thing
we need to know and receive spiritually.
No more hidden dark secrets. We are free
within. And this light within us, shines
outwards to others, because nothing is
any longer blocking it.
Have you thought lately about how much
light you are allowing God to spread within
your spirit and life? Are you withholding
parts of yourself because you think God doesn't
see them? Who are you kidding? Is that
working well for you? How about eternally?
These are questions that are life changing
and all of us must sincerely ask ourselves these
things, if we want victory in our daily life,
and peace within our spirit, and joy that
overcomes the sorrow that life brings.
My friend, life is short. Don't waste it
on pursuits that lead you to a path of
things that destroy. Don't waste your life on
relationships that drag you down and rob your
spiritual life. Pursue a life that is pleasing to
God, and healthy for you. Don't waste your time on
that which does not profit.
We all need vacations and times of fun,
but we also need serious times where we
self reflect, allow God to help us change ourselves
and where we are growing. We need more
light infused into our spirit to renew us,
refresh us, shed light upon things we have
not been noticing, or things we have been
neglecting.
These things will make your journey far
more joyful, knowing it is purposeful,
well thought out, and that you clean the
rubble as you go along. Most of all
that you have submitted to God the Father
and He is working fully in you. That my
friend is priceless!
word "light"? I was thinking about it this
morning. Let me give you an example
of the concept that came to mind.
Light and Darkness have profound differences.
Most of us take these for granted. We turn
on a light switch and voila ... we have light.
Simple isn't it?
But if you have darkness and cannot find
the light, it can cause many different and
rather profound thoughts in you. The
longer you are in the dark and wakeful
the more you can multiply that thinking.
Fear, despair, worry and anxiety can become
your companions.
But if you open a door, and the light
slowly inches across the room, filling each
corner and every object is reflecting that light,
it floods the room and shatters
the darkness, it changes your perspective.
Somehow it seems safer, more familiar,
more restful.
This is what our spiritual life is like.
We can only walk in as much light as we have
opened up to. And if we are not open to it,
you can be sure, it isn't there! God doesn't push
himself upon us, we must welcome and receive Him,
and allow him "place" in us. When He comes
to dwell all the dark places are no longer hidden,
and those things which are harmful, bad for us,
not needful he sheds light upon. He says
my child, get rid of this, let go of that, clean
up this. And then He teaches us steps to do it.
This comes through faithful reading of
God's word which sheds light on every thing
we need to know and receive spiritually.
No more hidden dark secrets. We are free
within. And this light within us, shines
outwards to others, because nothing is
any longer blocking it.
Have you thought lately about how much
light you are allowing God to spread within
your spirit and life? Are you withholding
parts of yourself because you think God doesn't
see them? Who are you kidding? Is that
working well for you? How about eternally?
These are questions that are life changing
and all of us must sincerely ask ourselves these
things, if we want victory in our daily life,
and peace within our spirit, and joy that
overcomes the sorrow that life brings.
My friend, life is short. Don't waste it
on pursuits that lead you to a path of
things that destroy. Don't waste your life on
relationships that drag you down and rob your
spiritual life. Pursue a life that is pleasing to
God, and healthy for you. Don't waste your time on
that which does not profit.
We all need vacations and times of fun,
but we also need serious times where we
self reflect, allow God to help us change ourselves
and where we are growing. We need more
light infused into our spirit to renew us,
refresh us, shed light upon things we have
not been noticing, or things we have been
neglecting.
These things will make your journey far
more joyful, knowing it is purposeful,
well thought out, and that you clean the
rubble as you go along. Most of all
that you have submitted to God the Father
and He is working fully in you. That my
friend is priceless!
Upvote
0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
- Jun 3, 2006
- 19,855
- 1,757
- 64
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
God speaks through His Word
to those who listen with their heart.
If you are like me, many times when you are tired, in pain or the world has been unkind and I have felt so alone, thinking, crying with millions of questions and no answers... then all of a sudden a deep comfort surrounds me. Peace is inhaled and exhaled and soon rest follows. Oh what a knowledge to know where this comes from! Some times my thoughts flash like a horrid lightening storm and again He stops the storms and I lay in green pastures as He talks with me and I to Him....and all is well once again. to those who listen with their heart.
I continue to move on as Joy, Peace and Love for He is my friend. (Also know as Jesus)
No matter what I KNOW I am loved...
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Nobella
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
One thing I found and blogged today, thought I would share here too.
Why so much focus on Jesus?
By Steve Cornell
Since his crucifixion, the world has never ceased to be interested in Jesus. In recent times, the interest has only increased. Easter and Christmas seasons consistently generate cover stories about Jesus on national magazines. Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ put Jesus on the big screen. Dan Brown stirred up more worldwide "Jesus controversy" through his Da Vinci Code novel. Most recently, James Cameron's developing documentary about the supposed bones of Jesus has gained international attention. Amazing! Two thousand years after His birth, the seemingly obscure carpenter from Nazareth continues to be a focal point of the world. But why? To what should we attribute this?
Does Jesus remain with us by the power of tradition? Is religion the source of His legacy? Or, is there more to Jesus than tradition and religion? I believe there is more much more! And those who know Him, understand that the enduring legacy of Jesus is based on something more powerful than tradition or religion.
One has suggested that, "Jesus of Nazareth remains the most important individual who has ever lived. Nobody else has had comparable influence over so many nations for so long. Nobody else has so affected art and literature, music and drama. Nobody else can remotely match his record in the liberation, the healing and the education of mankind. Nobody else has attracted such a multitude not only of followers but of worshippers. Our claim, then, is not just that Jesus was one of the great spiritual leaders of the world. It would be hopelessly incongruous to refer to him as 'Jesus the Great,' comparable to Alexander the Great, Charles the Great, or Napoleon the Great. Jesus is not 'the Great,' he is the only. He has no peers, no rivals and no successors" (John Stott, The Contemporary Christian).
Think about it: "If he had not grown up to become the Jesus Christ of the New Testament, we would never even have heard of the story of Christmas, despite its beauty, simplicity, and wonder. But something began at the Nativity which has never ended. The infant would change history, wrench the world's chronology so that its years would pivot about his birth, and touch countries, cultures, civilizations, and untold millions of lives. Yet the supreme paradox must be this: The person behind this achievement taught publicly for only three and one-half years. He wrote no book. He had no powerful religious or political machine behind himindeed, the ranking spiritual and governmental authorities opposed himand yet he became the central figure in human history. The Book about him now has well over a billion copies in print more than a thousand languages, and yet no one even wrote his biography in our sense of the term, since the four accounts of him given in the Gospels offer detail only on the two extremities of his life: his birth and his last three years. Of the some thirty intervening years, we know next to nothing" (John Stott).
The point is clear. The key to Jesus' legacy is His identity. It is not what the Church believed or continues to believe about him. Tradition has not defined Jesus. And religion has repeatedly proven to be empty, hypocritical and powerless. The legacy of Jesus is found in the fact that, "Jesus of Nazareth was not a man in whom God distinctly manifested himselfHe was God become God-Man" (Carl F. H. Henry).
A final thought for those confused about Jesus: "The biblical presentation of Jesus refuses to remain nicely confined to any of our containers. One picture after another of Jesus in this long line of nontraditional portraits fails before one question dear to the hearts of all faithful Christians: 'What about the Cross?' Why would anyone crucify the reasonable Jesus of the Enlightenment? Why would anyone crucify the dreamy poet of Romanticism? Why would anyone crucify the Law-abiding, mild-mannered rabbi of revisionist Jewish scholarship? Why would anyone crucify the witty, enigmatic, and marginal figure of the Jesus Seminar?" A Jewish scholar says, "'Theologians produced the figure they could admire most at the least cost.' But the Cross stands amidst each such easy path, each attempt to avoid the heart of the matter and the cost of discipleship. The Cross remains a stumbling block for all who encounter this Jesus. He is perhaps not the person we want, but he is surely the person we stilldesperatelyneed" (Allen).
The unending legacy of Jesus is simply and profoundly based on who Jesus is. Yes, I used the present tense "is" for Jesus because unlike other religious leaders, Jesus is not "dead and gone; finished and fossilized." He declared, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever" (Revelation 1:18). And, those who know Himunderstand who Jesus is and why his legacy will never be erased!
Why so much focus on Jesus?
By Steve Cornell
Since his crucifixion, the world has never ceased to be interested in Jesus. In recent times, the interest has only increased. Easter and Christmas seasons consistently generate cover stories about Jesus on national magazines. Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ put Jesus on the big screen. Dan Brown stirred up more worldwide "Jesus controversy" through his Da Vinci Code novel. Most recently, James Cameron's developing documentary about the supposed bones of Jesus has gained international attention. Amazing! Two thousand years after His birth, the seemingly obscure carpenter from Nazareth continues to be a focal point of the world. But why? To what should we attribute this?
Does Jesus remain with us by the power of tradition? Is religion the source of His legacy? Or, is there more to Jesus than tradition and religion? I believe there is more much more! And those who know Him, understand that the enduring legacy of Jesus is based on something more powerful than tradition or religion.
One has suggested that, "Jesus of Nazareth remains the most important individual who has ever lived. Nobody else has had comparable influence over so many nations for so long. Nobody else has so affected art and literature, music and drama. Nobody else can remotely match his record in the liberation, the healing and the education of mankind. Nobody else has attracted such a multitude not only of followers but of worshippers. Our claim, then, is not just that Jesus was one of the great spiritual leaders of the world. It would be hopelessly incongruous to refer to him as 'Jesus the Great,' comparable to Alexander the Great, Charles the Great, or Napoleon the Great. Jesus is not 'the Great,' he is the only. He has no peers, no rivals and no successors" (John Stott, The Contemporary Christian).
Think about it: "If he had not grown up to become the Jesus Christ of the New Testament, we would never even have heard of the story of Christmas, despite its beauty, simplicity, and wonder. But something began at the Nativity which has never ended. The infant would change history, wrench the world's chronology so that its years would pivot about his birth, and touch countries, cultures, civilizations, and untold millions of lives. Yet the supreme paradox must be this: The person behind this achievement taught publicly for only three and one-half years. He wrote no book. He had no powerful religious or political machine behind himindeed, the ranking spiritual and governmental authorities opposed himand yet he became the central figure in human history. The Book about him now has well over a billion copies in print more than a thousand languages, and yet no one even wrote his biography in our sense of the term, since the four accounts of him given in the Gospels offer detail only on the two extremities of his life: his birth and his last three years. Of the some thirty intervening years, we know next to nothing" (John Stott).
The point is clear. The key to Jesus' legacy is His identity. It is not what the Church believed or continues to believe about him. Tradition has not defined Jesus. And religion has repeatedly proven to be empty, hypocritical and powerless. The legacy of Jesus is found in the fact that, "Jesus of Nazareth was not a man in whom God distinctly manifested himselfHe was God become God-Man" (Carl F. H. Henry).
A final thought for those confused about Jesus: "The biblical presentation of Jesus refuses to remain nicely confined to any of our containers. One picture after another of Jesus in this long line of nontraditional portraits fails before one question dear to the hearts of all faithful Christians: 'What about the Cross?' Why would anyone crucify the reasonable Jesus of the Enlightenment? Why would anyone crucify the dreamy poet of Romanticism? Why would anyone crucify the Law-abiding, mild-mannered rabbi of revisionist Jewish scholarship? Why would anyone crucify the witty, enigmatic, and marginal figure of the Jesus Seminar?" A Jewish scholar says, "'Theologians produced the figure they could admire most at the least cost.' But the Cross stands amidst each such easy path, each attempt to avoid the heart of the matter and the cost of discipleship. The Cross remains a stumbling block for all who encounter this Jesus. He is perhaps not the person we want, but he is surely the person we stilldesperatelyneed" (Allen).
The unending legacy of Jesus is simply and profoundly based on who Jesus is. Yes, I used the present tense "is" for Jesus because unlike other religious leaders, Jesus is not "dead and gone; finished and fossilized." He declared, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever" (Revelation 1:18). And, those who know Himunderstand who Jesus is and why his legacy will never be erased!
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