"I'd show My glory, but what would you do with it?" I about fell over as He began to show me how American church has created the idea of Jesus a personal Savior in a way that's idolatrous.
Yes Jesus is personal. He knows us inside and out--every detail down the number of hair on our heads. He can speak to you and you can know Him on a personal level. That's not what we're talking about here.
Somehow over time we have created the idea that Jesus becomes your personal Savior and that He begins to change and save you for your own sake and that's it. And if others look at you and see a change or a difference that's great. They should get a personal Savior too. Jesus becomes as applicable as a fitness plan if you feel the need to have Him in your life.
Where did we get this idea that Jesus hides out inside of us? When did we begin to think He's only for us and our sense of sanity when when it gets hard at work or our kids are chaotic? How did Jesus become like our Lunchable--packaged and sealed till whenever we think we need to partake a little bit of the Bread of Life to sustain us. This is not the Jesus of the Gospels!
The impact of Jesus on the world was explosive! It was messy and inconvenient and it went beyond the personal-Savioring many misguided Christians proclaim they have. The Creator of the Universe chose a teenager to be birthed to, in a dark cave with an evil king on their trail. He died a gruesome death then The Risen Lord and Holy Spirit indwelling created a whole new level of rock-your-world belief the disciples couldn't seem to shut up about--even unto their own deaths and demise (there's that relentlessness I discussed in an earlier post--it's Divine).
If you're worshiping an image of Jesus that's well-behaved and pocket-sized--if you're picturing a comfy-cozy Jesus to help you make it through your day--it's a false image of Him. Get rid of it. Toss it out. The disciples didn't give their lives for a personalized, compacted Jesus. Not even the Son of Man gave His life for that!
The King of all Heaven who can't be contained, who consumes the heart and mind with all of Himself till it spills over and out into your life and the lives around you--the impactful, inconvienent God of the Universe--this is our God.
God wants to show us His glory. He wants us to share it with the world. He didn't die to make you a better person while you tarry here on earth, to get you by till you get to Heaven. He did all this to explode His love in you and to be demonstrated through you. His glory is revealed in us alive in Him. And until you know and worship the true God instead of an easier, safe-Jesus you will never understand why He can't be just for you.
He wants to show us His glory. What are we going to do with it? I don't even think we fully understand what it might mean. It will cost you everything in terms of being happy with your boxed-up uneffectual-Jesus, but that really isn't Him anyway is it?
He is the Pearl of Great Price we are willing to go broke on. And He's worth it all. Show us your Glory, God!
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