Knowing Jesus Christ

January 20, 2013 Background Scripture: Philippians 3:1 – 11 Lesson Passage: Philippians 3:1 – 11 How awkward it is to be thoroughly known by someone you are meeting for the very first time. You feel disadvantaged when they state how much they have heard about you and yet you have never heard about them. After the normal cordial exchanges, then the next order of business is to get to know something about this person you have just met. Why were they so interested in knowing about you? Why did they bother to remember what someone else might have said about you? And most importantly, HOW MUCH DID THEY REALLY HEAR ABOUT YOU??? These one-sided encounters can become quite uncomfortable. All who come to know Christ are confronted with exactly this type of encounter. We discover that Jesus knows EVERYTHING about us and we are just learning a few basic things about him. In fact, most of what we know about Jesus comprises the lyrics of children’s songs used during Sunday School and Bible Class. (There is that awkward moment again.) Yet those who know him far better than we do assure us that Jesus knows all about us—and still he loves us! It is being convinced of his love that prompts us to take up the next order of business; how do I come to know more about him? What kind of person is this that knows everything about us and loves us anyway? What kind of person would graciously help us in our time of need while knowing that we will soon forget about it and ignore him later on? When we hear about his great deeds, we try to imagine being around for those encounters that others testify about. What did the fish and bread really taste like? Did it taste funny and was it the best they had ever had—like the wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee? Note that all of these questions put us in a position of observation rather than in a close intimate encounter. Jesus does not beckon us to come and watch him. He does not call for spectators but disciples who will learn of him and follow him. To follow him involve walking where and as he walked and doing what he did. We are not required to figure this out. Jesus wants us to come to know him in such a close way that he can speak to us and direct our actions. How do we know when Jesus is speaking to us? We can only know that after we come to know him. Afterwards, we will readily recognize him not by the sound of his voice but by what he says. When we know Jesus, we know when he is speaking by the content of what is being said. This means that I will need to know something about his mind and his heart. This cannot be learned from a spectator’s position. I must spend some time alone with him. I must talk to him and also listen and hear his response to me. If I am to know him, then we must talk about more than just church. We need to have a sincere talk about life and, whether I like it or not, death. I need to share with him my insecurities about my mortality and ignorance of eternal life. I need to listen so he can give me assurance and tell me about things that are beyond my finding out on my own; such as death, resurrection, and eternal life. What is my greatest insecurity in life? Is it death? Well, Jesus died and rose again to live forever. If death is conquered, then what is there in life to fear? Oh! That I might know him, and the power of his resurrection… Robert C. Hudson January 3, 2013

Imitating Christ

January 13, 2013 Background Scripture: Philippians 2 Lesson Passage: Philippians 2:1 – 13 I am convinced that there are only a few originals in the world today. It seems as though everything and everybody are clones or copies of others. Even knock-off brands often outsell the originals. People remind us of other people. They sound like, walk like, or act like someone else. If you come up with a great theory, you are not unique. You are just “another” Einstein. If you create unique music, then you are another Beethoven. This all reminds me of a very old movie called “Imitation of Life”. Although this can seem disheartening, yet it can also be encouraging. It was great growing up with four older brothers and what seemed to be an endless supply of older cousins. I could imitate their success and avoid their failures fairly risk free. Imagine having the perfect role model to imitate so that every step you take and every decision you make will always be the right ones. This would take a lot of confusion and guess work out of life. This is precisely what the Apostle Paul urged the Christians at Philippi to consider. The perfect role model that Paul suggested was Christ Jesus. Jesus’ example showed exactly how to have a perfect relationship with God. He demonstrated the disposition that was needed to come into right relationship with God, i.e., a disposition of humility. In fact, Paul challenged the believers to consider Jesus’ thinking pattern or mindset. God did not humble Jesus but rather Jesus humbled himself. The result of his self-imposed humility was subsequent exaltation by God. Jesus did not apply for a higher position than the one he already had. Instead, he abased himself rather than fight to maintain his previous status. Jesus put himself at God’s disposal for God to work through him however He chose to. Jesus paid an enormous price for his obedience. He submitted himself to the most humiliating death known to man at that time. Although Jesus is the author of life, he submitted himself to crucifixion that the judgment of God against humanity could be satisfied. In return, God exalted him high above everything and gave him a name that has unsurpassed power. Every creature whether of the earth or heaven will submit to the name of Jesus and pay homage to him. No one else will ever achieve such a thing but there is still the opportunity to be the best we can in this life and be rewarded throughout eternity in the life to come. To receive this, we have to have the mind of Christ and clothe ourselves in humility and submit to the Lordship of Christ. This is more than studying his example and trying to retrace all of his steps. We are to submit to the will of God and allow God to direct our steps in all that we do. The mind of Christ will cause us to seek to have God be glorified in our lives through submission to His will and following His directions. Like Jesus, we need to develop a continuous relationship with God and be ever listening to His voice. Then we will say as Jesus said, My Father works and therefore I do too. Robert C. Hudson December 27, 2012