GodReflection: Power Words

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; – Psalms 95:6

I grew up with Acts and the Letters. They were the core of my Bible. My task was to get them right.

The goal of my people was to get church right. The interest in getting Jesus right—although given a holy shout from time to time—seemed to me to be a back burner topic.

Truth is it was wrong thinking to see Acts and the Letters as the heart of Scripture.

The main character and the principal subject of the entire Bible is Jesus. Nothing in Scripture is of greater importance. My goal should have been to get Jesus right.

The Bible begins with the introduction of Jesus as a participant with God in creation. The 39 books of Old Testament Scripture build toward the introduction and mission of Jesus the Son of God.

The New Testament opens with the Gospels—the very heart and core of Scripture. The Gospels are no less than the Gospel. They tell the story of Jesus. They bring good news.

The Gospels introduce Jesus as the gift of God to humankind. To know Jesus is to know God.

To know the teachings of Jesus is to know the will of God.

To follow Jesus’ life is to follow God’s actions as He restores fallen humanity to its previous perfect state.

Jesus is the answer to sin that broke the heart of God throughout the Old Testament.

Jesus’ birth, life, teachings, claims, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension place him at the heart of Scripture.

Through those generous acts of God, He gave His Son to usher restorative grace into the world. To know Jesus is to return to the likeness of God.

By the power that flows from the cross through Jesus my daily walk stands spotless before the eyes of God.

God’s great acts justify trust in Jesus to guide my walk. Jesus’ great obedience calls me to 24/7 worship.

Just as Old Testament Scripture provides one bookend to the Gospels that introduce Jesus; the Acts of the Apostles, the 21 letters, and the Revelation of Jesus to John supply the other.

Jesus stands between the Law and the Letters. The Old Testament and the Law point to Jesus on the cross while Acts and the Letters point to Jesus in the churches.

Here is what I think.

My take away from Genesis to the Book of Revelation is Jesus.

If I get Jesus right I will get life right. If I get Jesus right I will get church on earth right. If I get Jesus right I will get relationships right. If I get Jesus right I will get eternity right.

Common, everyday people, with all of their wounds and defects lived in the Letters in an attempt to let Jesus live in them. Like the real people who were the subjects of the letters, I will not get Jesus completely right. However, he with his perfection lives in me.

The best news for one like me who experiences my share of blunders in the process of becoming like Jesus is the fact I do it all under the canopy of his grace.

As God peers through the cover of grace to examine my walk—what He sees is Jesus and the shelter of his shadow that reflects perfection in this imperfect me.

There can be no greater power word to provoke around the clock worship than Jesus.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on Jesus

Gary@GodReflection.org                     www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com