Daily Prayer - Are we of noble character?

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

Have you ever heard anyone say something like "Jesus was a great mand and a great teacher, but still just a man"?  In searching for inspiration this morning I came across an interesting website.  Here is an excerpt of what I read: 

'I'm flabbergasted by people trying to pass Jesus off as just a good man!' said Jake.

'Eh?' asked Amber, mystified.

'Good men don't go around emphasizing humility, attacking hypocrisy and then making the stupendous claims that he made, such as, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). As if it weren't enough that Abraham lived hundreds of years before him, Jesus didn't even say, 'I was' but 'I am,' implying he was eternal and beyond time. Good men don't claim to be wiser than Solomon, who had been pronounced the wisest man ever to live (Luke 11:31). Good men don't say, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to God except by me (John 14:6) or anyone who has seen me has seen God (John 14:9). No good man would be so conceited as to claim that the greatest prophets before him were mere servants of God and that he, in contrast, was the beloved only Son (Mark 12:1-12). Good men don't go on making claims of this magnitude day after day until finally sentenced to death for the blasphemy of claiming to be God.'

'Jake's right!' exclaimed Jasmin. 'In contrast, the Apostle Paul – perhaps the greatest Christian ever to live – made claims like, "I am the chief of sinners." The closer people get to God, the more humble and more aware of their moral shortcomings they become. Jesus was totally different to any other "good man." He was continually making assertions that would brand him as the most arrogant, hypocritical man ever to live – unless he truly was God.'

'And more than that,' added Jake, 'good men die and stay dead. The firm, historical evidence that Jesus bodily rose from the dead is enormous. And good men don't keep working miracles 2,000 years after they are dead; transforming the lives of multiplied millions of people of all different races and cultures and religious backgrounds!

'Here's a great quote I've found.' Jake fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and began to read. 'Christianity "is either the greatest certainty or the greatest delusion . . ." ' (Source)

The greatest certainty or the greatest delusion - which is it?  I came to faith through study and research, so I really love apologetics web sites such as this one.  Paul commended the Bereans for the way they verified what he was teaching them: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11).  How often do we confirm the teachings we receive with our own research?  Are we prepared to answer those who would deny the existence of God and the Deity of Christ? If not, we should be.

 

I love this quote from C.S. Lewis: 

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

Father, the words that Jesus spoke to the chief priests upon His arrest, "This is your hour… when darkness reigns" would days later turn into the finest hour on the Christian calendar.

Torture and death did not have the final say, for darkness dissipated and light broke through as Jesus rose from the tomb.

We are joyful and victorious as we walk in the newness of life provided through the death and resurrection of our Savior.

We are also reminded that evil and death have no permanent hold over us, for the former things have lost their power because Jesus defeated our greatest enemy.

We give thanks to You, God, for Your indescribable gift of salvation through Jesus. Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/a-prayer-for-gods-finest-hour/)

 

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material.

 

If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.

 

Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.