16. Risen With Christ

16. Risen With Christ

Two friends of mine who have earned their degrees in Hebrew, tell me that the words we choose when we speak affect our thought process. I am afraid they are right. A good example of this is when we call the building we congregate in “the church”. This affects the way we see that place.

Many times we hear “Jesus is my faithful friend” which is an amazing truth. But then we hear things like, “When I am weary, He gives me strength. When I am troubled, He gives me peace.

When I am afraid, He covers me, etc.”

These sayings, verbalized so often, are basically saying that Jesus gives me what I need when I need it. This is true, but I think that we need to go much deeper in the way we see things.

Jesus not only gives me peace, He is my peace.1 He not only helps me, He is my help.2 He is my song3, my refuge4, my praise5. He does not only show me the way, He is the way6. He doesn’t just reveal His truth to me, He is the truth6. He doesn’t just give me life, He is my life6 and my salvation.7

This is much more than just a question of semantics. Either Jesus is with me in my struggle to do His will, or He is doing His will in and through me. In Hebrews 13:21 it tells us that He equips us in everything good to do His will and that He works in us that which is pleasing in His sight. He is either at my side, encouraging me, giving me strength, protecting me, or He is my strength8, He is my fortress9, my rock10, my shield.9

Jesus wants to be all in all for me and if we reduce Him to just being a provider, it could happen that we only go to Him when we need something.

Henry Blackaby, in his excellent book “Experiencing God” emphasizes the verse in John 17:3. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (KJV)

It all depends on Him. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. If I allow Him to do it, He makes me righteous. My own efforts to be righteous have failed spectacularly. He has given us everything. He has provided everything.

Do you feel a burden for the lost? He tells us that if we follow Him, He will make us fishers of men.11 So, can we say that if we are not fishers of men, that means that we are not following Him? I think we can.

Are you tired of trying to live the life that He expects from you? Has that struggle led to spiritual weariness? I have good news for you. There is a solution. He told us that if we go to Him, if we are weary and heavy laden, He will give us rest.12

Let’s go to Him and allow Him to give us that rest.

1- Ephesians 2:14 2- Psalms 63:7 3- Psalms 118:14 4- Psalms 62:7 5- Jeremiah 17:14 6- John 14:6 7- Psalms 27:1 8- Psalms 27:1 9- Psalms 28:7 10- Psalms 22:2 11- Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17 12- Matthew 11:28