Sunday, June 29th; The God-man...
In the midst of Christ’s creative genius (as God) he certainly took a strange step in his efforts to recapture the hearts and souls of humanity – he became one of those that he created (a man). To try and get a handle on this seemingly odd set of events take a look at…
John 1:1-14 (the before and after mystery)
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Read it a few times and ask yourself the following:
1. Who is “the word’ referred to in the first few verses?
2. What was “the word” up to?
3. Did “the word” have a beginning?
4. What does it mean what it says “the word became flesh”?
5. What is Christ’s glory?
It’s true; God’s mission is to seek out and restore/rescue humanity. This was his mission then and it’s his mission today. Jesus took the first step when led with compassion and became one of us.
While on earth Jesus repeatedly expressed compassion on those in the margins (the poor, lonely, rejected, homeless, imprisoned, widowed, orphaned, greedy, and assorted misfits); this compassion ran so deep that he took their place on the cross, and then asked them to take his place on earth.
It’s true for us too.
To love and serve means that we, like Jesus, address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people regardless of where they live, what they believe, their economic status, country of origin, or religious background; those living in the margins.
The compassion of God is meant to be shared and expressed in the way we live. No speeches, no lectures, no sermons, no handouts, no memorization, no formal training, no theological expertise, no judgments, no condemnation, no expectations, no religion; just love.
Just live as Jesus wants us to live.
This is the cool part; along the way, curiosity is peaked. People want to know why you are doing what you do giving you a chance to share the compassion message, and hopefully others will join us in our desire to help those who need to experience a living hope. His name is Jesus…
Compassion Rules! Live your Life...
www.compassionrules.com
John 1:1-14 (the before and after mystery)
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Read it a few times and ask yourself the following:
1. Who is “the word’ referred to in the first few verses?
2. What was “the word” up to?
3. Did “the word” have a beginning?
4. What does it mean what it says “the word became flesh”?
5. What is Christ’s glory?
It’s true; God’s mission is to seek out and restore/rescue humanity. This was his mission then and it’s his mission today. Jesus took the first step when led with compassion and became one of us.
While on earth Jesus repeatedly expressed compassion on those in the margins (the poor, lonely, rejected, homeless, imprisoned, widowed, orphaned, greedy, and assorted misfits); this compassion ran so deep that he took their place on the cross, and then asked them to take his place on earth.
It’s true for us too.
To love and serve means that we, like Jesus, address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people regardless of where they live, what they believe, their economic status, country of origin, or religious background; those living in the margins.
The compassion of God is meant to be shared and expressed in the way we live. No speeches, no lectures, no sermons, no handouts, no memorization, no formal training, no theological expertise, no judgments, no condemnation, no expectations, no religion; just love.
Just live as Jesus wants us to live.
This is the cool part; along the way, curiosity is peaked. People want to know why you are doing what you do giving you a chance to share the compassion message, and hopefully others will join us in our desire to help those who need to experience a living hope. His name is Jesus…
Compassion Rules! Live your Life...
www.compassionrules.com
posted by Ron Gelaude at
11:48 AM
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