There are two great truths the gospels reveal about Jesus: A) He is fully God and B) He is fully human. To date, the Church has rightly emphasised the deity of Jesus. As Scripture says, “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1

 Jesus is and always has been God, but what did it mean for Jesus to also be fully human?

In his gospel Luke describes some of the events of Jesus life and in Luke 2:40 we read “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favour of God was upon him.” I wonder what it was like for Jesus to grow up as a little child? I wonder what it was like for Jesus’ siblings to have an older brother who never sinned?

 

Later on, in Chapter 2 we read in verse 52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man.” The question I have is, if Jesus is God, how can he increase in wisdom? What is Luke talking about?

 

As we read through Luke we can see very clearly that Luke is deliberately describing Jesus as a little Child, Tween and Adolescent. Luke is presenting Jesus as experiencing normal human development. This is made even clearer for us when we read in Hebrews 2:17 “therefore he (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people”.

 

So why are we talking about this?

 

When we look at Jesus’ life we see that Jesus lived the prototype Christian life. Jesus was man as God intended man to be. Jesus did not do what he did in his own power as God. Jesus himself said in John 5:19 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” In effect, Jesus acknowledged that it is the Father who lives in me doing what you see.


unnamed

 

 

How did Jesus disciples view him? In Acts 10 the Apostle Peter says, “You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”  Peter saw clearly that it was God at work through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Today God wants you to see that Jesus’ relationship to the Father and the Holy Spirit—as a man—is the model for your life. Just as the Apostle Paul saw this relationship as the model for his life.  

 

In Galatians 2:20 the apostle Paul says I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. Paul makes it very clear that as he lives his life as an ambassador for Christ, as an evangelist, as a leader in the Church, as a man winning souls for God, he says it is “Christ who lives in me”!

 

And it is the same for you today. The reality is you can’t do evangelism effectively but Christ can and wants to do it through you. You can’t convince people of the truth of the gospel but Christ can and he wants to do that through you.

 

Remember, Jesus’ confidence was in his Father at work through him by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul’s confidence was in Christ at work through him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Final thoughts

Today, accept your own inadequacy and trust Jesus to reach people through you. Who does Christ want to reach through you today? Who does he want to help through you? Will you accept your own inadequacy and trust Jesus?

 

Witnessing Lifestyle Priority #5: Accepting my inadequacy and trust Jesus to reach people through me

 

Categories:

6 Responses

  1. I thankyou for being reminded that when we do evangelism it is the Holy Spirit that works through us. We tend to forget this. Every day I like to pray this: Forgive me, Lord, for thinking that to do your will I need anything more than what you have given – my own hands to extend love and kindness, my own feet to take me where you want to go, and my own story of redemption to explain your will for the world. Forgive me for waiting for better circumstances, more talent, more time, or a bigger budget. I want my life to be evidence of your transforming power. May I live every day in the awareness that I have everything I need to accomplish whatever you want me to do.

  2. Thank you for reminding me I am only a channel the Holy Spirit uses to share the good news about Jesus. May the seeds sewn through the bible stories I teach to Playtime mothers each week , and all that I do and say cause others to come to know Jesus also.

    • Amen! You are very much welcome, Diane. Praise God for people like you who are passionate to be witnesses for Chirst!! I pray that God will continue to use you to bring MORE people closer to Him! I pray that even right now, our Father is already preparing the hearts of the mothers/parents to be receptive of the Gospel!

    • Hi Dianne, I join you in your prayer that many may come to know Jesus through the seeds you sow and all you say and do. Continue to trust God to work through you as you represent him each day.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *