“John called two of these followers and sent them to the Master with this message: ‘Are you the Coming One, or should we expect someone else?’” (Luke 7:18-19)
Even John the Baptist, the one chosen to prepare the way of Christ, had some doubt as to whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. He was most likely expecting Jesus to establish some sort of a “messianic kingdom.” Instead, Jesus did many things that were out of the ordinary and unlikely.
I get pretty passionate about today’s church in many different ways. We deal with legalism, Bible translation issues, and one that particularly hits home for me, “The Worship War.” I have heard it asked before, “If Jesus was sitting on the back pew in our church today, would we recognize Him?” I tend to think, if anything, we would most likely shun Him and eventually drive Him away from our congregation. Something tells me Jesus would not be what we expect Him to be.
It says in Proverbs chapter 3 to “lean NOT on our own understanding.” How often does our own understanding get in the way of God’s sovereign plan? Can we not just accept God’s Word for what it is and in turn, let God be God? Being finite people serving an infinite God, we should expect the unexpected as Christ works in our lives. Let us not be so naïve as to think our way (works, methodology, beliefs) replaces God’s Word or in any way gets us on God’s “good side.”
We live under grace. It is because of the “unexpected and unlikely” blood of Jesus Christ that we have an opportunity to have a relationship with Him. Let us remember that when it comes to God, even to expect the unexpected we can still be surprised as it relates to our understanding of the nature of God and what He is going to do in our lives. “Know that we cannot claim to know.”
Michael B
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4 comments:
Michael,
I have been meditating on Proverbs 3 and it really gives me a new perspective on things. Sometimes we plan too much or think we know the perfect plans and hope to carry through according to our own expectation. Often times we got upset with life and circumstances because we think base on "man centered" rather than "God centered" thinking. God cares enough for us that He is willing to take away anything, anyone that might take His place in our relationship to him.
~Lyd
Michael,
I have often wondered, how would we respond to Christ if we were to encounter Him as they did -- unexpectedly different than presumed.
Andy
Very good point. Would we recognize Jesus today? That is the question I am thinking about very often. And jet I really like the passage in Jeremiah 29:13 were it promises that those (people of Israel) who seek God with their all heart will find God.
Michael --What a great reminder.I WAS READING A tremendous true mission story aloud this week Torches Of Joy by John Dekker.It made me think about the worship wars. John was working to evangelize stone age people blessed and directed greatly by God.When John tried to teach western style hymns to them, the effort limped along but when he switched to a singing/chanting pattern they were familiar with, the effort soared and the people quickly started making up their own praises from the Bible lessons they were taught. Casting Crowns has a great song, What This World Needs that really convicts me about the times I have gotten in God's way.
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