The Authority of Christ
The resurrection was a display of Christ’s authority and divinity, even after the disciples doubted it, and shows that Christ and Christ alone has the power to save.
The resurrection was a display of Christ’s authority and divinity, even after the disciples doubted it, and shows that Christ and Christ alone has the power to save.
We put our stale crumbs on the table and prayed that the Lord would prepare a feast. The mindset was “I will pray all night or until I encounter Jesus, whichever comes first.”
When someone makes a mistake in their job, no matter how small the infraction, we move quickly to stating they should be fired. When a person commits an atrocious act, the response of those of the faith has been to hunt and kill them. All of this being guised by the call to justice. The issue is that the scale of the punishment and how quickly the conclusion was arrived at shows that something in the heart is not asking for justice but rather for vengeance. Instead of looking for the right thing to be done, the temptation is satisfy a blood lust and see our enemies suffer. The Gospel is ignored in our blood lust.
We strive so hard to prove our own worth through our own actions and feats, but doing so will never distill the anxiety but only multiply it. Grace through faith is the key to calming our anxious minds. In the end, our works are vastly insufficient to produce a self-worth of any value. But this is not the stem of our anxiety but rather are we good enough. We ask the question over and over presenting our best works forward to the people around us in hopes for validation of a question that can only be answered by God. “Am I good enough?” The answer from a loving God who sought us out in our ruin, is a most assured and resounding “yes.”
Feeling concerned for a person to either renew their relationship with Christ through their daily living or for them to come to Christ in the first place is natural. However, it is not a place we can stay. The feelings of concern, worry, and anxiety are not things we are meant to hold on to. It is a burden and God is able to handle much better than we are able to. Worry for those I care about, while it may be based in a good sentiment, is ultimately the worst thing I can do. We will all go through times of feeling anxious for a person, but what we do during that time is what marks the difference. Instead of spiraling downward into anxiety, what better option do you have than to place that person in the hands of God and allow God’s hands to work through ours.
The Gospel that Jesus Christ brings speaks a great deal into our finances and the provision. Jesus, in His iconic sermon on the mount, instructions His people to not worry about where their provision will come from. To this he shows us the examples of the birds and animals who live in trust that God will provide for their daily needs. We are worth more to God than animals and can trust God for the provision for our daily living. This may not always be easy, but we are able to trust God. He has provided for us in the past and will continue to guide us in the future. Furthermore, when God provides, we have the opportunity to live our our faith and be good stewards of what we have been given.
