Is He for real?

Psalm 109:21-31; Matthew 11

There are two scriptures that I studied today, as there has been for the last little while. The first scripture found in Psalm 109 contains a plea from David. He is asking God to preserve him and to save him because of his goodness. He also suggests that those who are not good will be destroyed because of their lack of goodness. In the second scripture, Matthew 11, Jesus teaches about John the Baptist, about what happens to those who do not listen to Jesus and also reveals a little bit about His nature.

The passage from the Book of Psalms appears to be somewhat fulfilled in the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 11. This is particularly apparent when Jesus is denouncing cities that have not repented. It is very interesting just prior to that when Jesus is speaking about John the Baptist. John is sitting in prison and appears to be questioning his skills as a prophet. He seems to be unsure of whether or not what he said about Jesus was true. It is interesting that without saying so specifically Jesus here declares that he is indeed the Messiah, the Son of God and the fulfillment of scriptures. He does so by validating all that John has said about him and by validating who John is in reference to prophesies and scripture. Whether the people at the time were able to put it together I am not sure. However, by reading further it appears that for their sake I hope that they were. As the passage continues Jesus begins to denounce cities that he had been performing miracles in because they had not repented of their sins. The Bible says that the cities that he is denouncing are the cities in which he has performed most of his miracles. He begins to compare them to infamous cities of the old testament which met unpleasant fates. He not only suggests but declares that it will be better for Sodom than for these cities that have failed to repent when it comes time for the Judgement. These are very strong words and seem to line up with the strong approach that Jesus took in the previous chapter of Matthew. However, at the end of this chapter Jesus reveals an aspect of his character that I think is sometimes the most well known. Jesus describes himself as gentle and humble and willing to take on the burden of the weary and heavy-laden.

I look at this passage and I realize that I do not take Jesus as seriously as I should. I believe that I am not alone in this mindset either. Sometimes I consider Jesus to be convenient and cuddly. Really I think I view him as the ultimate teddy bear. I think in general as a society we all to easily believe in and follow a convenient Jesus. A Jesus who works on our schedule and within our terms. The only problem with this mindset is that it is completely wrong. If we...if I think that I am pleasing Jesus by serving him under my terms and forcing him into how I think he should look and act then I need to give my head a shake. Jesus is not just a fanciful concept. Jesus is for real. Jesus walked on this earth and he spoke hard truths but nonetheless they were truths. Today I have seen that he has exposed the spectrum that his character covers. I can either live my life following the Jesus that I have created which in actuality is just following myself, or I can step up accept the fact that Jesus is for real and that he means business and it is dangerous for me to trivialize who he is even a little bit. I have a responsibility to respect the person of Jesus and to honour what he desires from me in my life. If I do not give him this respect I run the risk of becoming the personification of the cities that received miracles from Jesus but did not repent. I must see Jesus for who he is, repent and live my life for him.

Dear God,

You paid the ultimate sacrifice by sending Jesus to die for me. A miracle in itself. I should consider the fact that you have saved me from my sins and given me life eternal with you nothing less than a miracle. I have a choice I can live my life as though Jesus is not real, I can fail to repent and continue living my life within my parameters and run the risk of being wrong, thus being described by Jesus as being worse than Sodom, or I can get over my pride, stop restricting you, repent and live my life for you the way you want me to regardless of what others might say or do. Today I ask that you will help me to do the latter. I ask that you will convict me everyday with the reality of Jesus and the implication that he has on my life. I ask that you will lead me to live my life in such a way that those around me will not be able to deny the absolute reality of your son Jesus any longer. Instead may your love and grace and compassion reign supreme and touch all those I see. I am sorry that I have tried to serve the concept of Jesus. I want now to serve the person and Lord Jesus. Here I am Lord, without parameters and guidelines of my own. I am ready to play by your rules now.

Amen.