Do you ever feel it? The blush; that uneasy and ashamed feeling. Often, too often to admit, do I feel ashamed of my Lord Jesus and here is why: He is just SO opposite than the expectations placed on Him. Lets just start from the beginning, a mere few:
Here he comes wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger (where animals eat), born to a humble carpenter who has yet to "know" his wife. God in flesh, lying in a manger. Not what I would expect. (Luke 2:12)
An untrained Rabi, by worldly standards, Jesus chooses mostly fishermen to be his disciples. He even throws in a tax collector for good measure. Not all of them, but most were uneducated. God choosing
the simpleminded. Not what I would expect. (Luke 5)
Jesus rides into Jerusalem for passover on a colt, not even an adult donkey. He doesn't demand to be carried around like the true emperor he is. Always humble, never demanding worship or respect. Not what I would expect. (Matt. 21:7)
During Jesus' last supper with his disciples he takes the place of the lowest slave to wash all of his disciples' feet including the man he knew would betray him. Creator of the universe squatting before his followers and washing their dirty, stinking feet. Not what I would expect. (John 13)
The most shameful way for a Jewish man to die was on the cross. Obedient unto death, Jesus did this and took my shame and humiliation for me. Not what I would expect. (Luke 23-24)
Dying to live. Humiliation to exaltation. Cross to Christ. Is it just me or does this all seem backward?
The reason for the shame I feel, is because Christ IS different in every way than what we would, as sinners expect him to be. "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
I praise the Lord today that He is not what I want him to be; that He is just who He said He would be.
I also praise Him for:
163. Koen saying "I lud du Momma"...I hope I never forget how he says this!
164. spending time with a wise friend, going through coupons, laughing and sharing life together
165. cousins having babies...new LIFE
166. hot Summer days...and the not-so hot ones
167. watching a baby wonder and learn a thousand things all at once
168. a friends new-to-them home
169. planning for birthday surprises
170. thinking about going home
171. my Papa Gary
172. lick your plate good chocolate chip oatmeal cookie bars...Koen did just that
173. a holy example to follow
174. a boy and his skateboard
175. reorganizing
176. teaching, and reteaching...again and again...that same lesson to a son, a good son
177. reading the Word
178. time together with my Love and a bill under $20 at Chili's ;)
179. watching Gideon learn to walk
180. a humble Savior
Here he comes wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger (where animals eat), born to a humble carpenter who has yet to "know" his wife. God in flesh, lying in a manger. Not what I would expect. (Luke 2:12)
An untrained Rabi, by worldly standards, Jesus chooses mostly fishermen to be his disciples. He even throws in a tax collector for good measure. Not all of them, but most were uneducated. God choosing
the simpleminded. Not what I would expect. (Luke 5)
Jesus rides into Jerusalem for passover on a colt, not even an adult donkey. He doesn't demand to be carried around like the true emperor he is. Always humble, never demanding worship or respect. Not what I would expect. (Matt. 21:7)
During Jesus' last supper with his disciples he takes the place of the lowest slave to wash all of his disciples' feet including the man he knew would betray him. Creator of the universe squatting before his followers and washing their dirty, stinking feet. Not what I would expect. (John 13)
The most shameful way for a Jewish man to die was on the cross. Obedient unto death, Jesus did this and took my shame and humiliation for me. Not what I would expect. (Luke 23-24)
Dying to live. Humiliation to exaltation. Cross to Christ. Is it just me or does this all seem backward?
The reason for the shame I feel, is because Christ IS different in every way than what we would, as sinners expect him to be. "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
I praise the Lord today that He is not what I want him to be; that He is just who He said He would be.
I also praise Him for:
163. Koen saying "I lud du Momma"...I hope I never forget how he says this!
164. spending time with a wise friend, going through coupons, laughing and sharing life together
165. cousins having babies...new LIFE
166. hot Summer days...and the not-so hot ones
167. watching a baby wonder and learn a thousand things all at once
168. a friends new-to-them home
169. planning for birthday surprises
170. thinking about going home
171. my Papa Gary
172. lick your plate good chocolate chip oatmeal cookie bars...Koen did just that
173. a holy example to follow
174. a boy and his skateboard
175. reorganizing
176. teaching, and reteaching...again and again...that same lesson to a son, a good son
177. reading the Word
178. time together with my Love and a bill under $20 at Chili's ;)
179. watching Gideon learn to walk
180. a humble Savior
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