Daily Devotions

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Current Study: Living Life to the Fullest         

Today’s Topic: The Nature of Jesus

Today’s Scripture:   Psalm 139:1-3  O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

OK, let’s break down our New Year’s resolution from yesterday into some specifics. As you recall, we resolved to live out the command of Colossians 3:17, which says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  Living life in the name of the Lord Jesus begins with an understanding of the nature of Jesus. Who is He, and how does the knowledge of Him change me? What are the practical implications of living with the knowledge of the nature of Jesus?

First, He is God. He is not a god. He is THE GOD. What a marvelous pronouncement of this truth we find in Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Why does this matter? Because if Jesus were simply a god, then we would have the right to abandon Him for any other god of our choosing. We would even go so far as to declare ourselves a god. Unless we accept and act upon the truth that Jesus is God we will live our lives according to our own desires. We will be completely self-centered and seek self-fulfillment. Our decisions will be based on obedience to the flesh. Our actions will be the result of seeking immediate gratification. We will be people of pride. We will find our security in the strength of self. We will become our own god. It is significant that the first commandment of God to the human race states, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

This directly leads to the second aspect of the nature of Jesus – His sovereignty. If we do not accept that Jesus is God, then we will not accept that He is Lord. We will strive for control of our lives and the lives of others, rather than surrender all control to Him. We will cease to be people of faith and become people of fear. Fear develops when we believe we are in control of outcomes. Faith is victorious over fear because it trusts the outcome to the One who is ultimately in control. Faith is patient and waits for God’s outcomes, while fear attempts to manipulate results. Peace is unknown in fear. Faith brings a peace that surpasses all human reason. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. This peace is only possible if we truly believe that Jesus is in control, and surrender to His control in all areas of our lives.

The next aspects of the nature of Jesus all deal with His eternal existence. He is omnipresent (He is everywhere always), omniscient (He is all-knowing), and omnipotent (He is all-powerful). Look how Psalm 139 declares them all to us –

• He is omniscient – verses 1-4  O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
• He is omnipresent – verses 7-10  Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
• He is omnipotent – verses 13-14  For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

We cannot fool Him, for He knows us. We cannot hide from Him, for He is everywhere always. We cannot overcome Him, for He is the creator and sustainer of all things. There are two implications from these truths. First, there is motivation to humility, which will result in rejection of sin. Once we know He is God, and that He is in control, and that we cannot hide from Him or overpower Him, we will surrender everything to Him. No longer will we live in hypocrisy, but will become people of integrity. Second, there is motivation to thanksgiving. In knowing us He loves us. In loving us He never leaves us or forsakes us. In His abiding presence with us He provides power for living fully. Hallelujah! Let’s praise Him!

The final aspect of His nature is His immutability – He never changes. His nature is always the same. His word stands forever. His promises are secure. There is no compromise of His truth. What was true then is true now. What freedom there is in this. No longer do we need to look for new revelations of God, for in Jesus we have the complete revelation of God to man. No longer do we need to be concerned with adapting the Word of God to a more modern interpretation or application. No longer do we need to be the agents of change. No longer do we need to spend hours of time in prayer seeking a special dispensation of God’s grace for a particular problem in our lives. No longer do we need to waste our lives away in the pursuit of permission. Jesus doe not change. His Word does not change. His commands do not change. In obedience is true liberty. In obedience is the fullness of life.

So, for today, let’s evaluate our thoughts, our words, our choices, and our actions, in the light of the nature of Jesus. Then ask this question – Does this thought, word, choice or activity support my belief that Jesus, in His very nature, is God?

Pastor John