Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
This week, we have studied our need to “stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth” (Ephesians 6:14a), for Satan and the demons are ever active (Revelation 9) and always lie (John 8:44). The context of Ephesians provides some helpful applications of this “truth.” Ephesians 2:1-10, for example, makes it plain that we are saved by grace alone: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (verse 8). In that grace, we become different people: “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works; which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (verse 10). We can “be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16b) such that we are “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15a). Note the connection between “truth” and “love”; lies are not the language of love. As we grow in this truthful love (or, if you prefer, this loving truth), we will become distinctive: “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:21). Mutual submission is unique to Christianity; it is certainly something that the demons do not practice nor understand. It is our privilege – and responsibility – to show a fractured world that there is a better way to live now and one way to live forever, through faith in Jesus Christ.