Christianity begins and ends with Jesus! Without Jesus, Christianity simply cannot exist.
The present reality in our nation is that many sadly misbelieve that Jesus is simply one option among many in a quest to be religious, spiritual and know something about God or a “Higher Power.”
As the 4th of July celebrations approach, we will proudly sing or hear performed “God Bless America.” We will buy hot dogs and hamburgers with money that proudly declares “In God We Trust.” But which god do we trust? Whose blessings are we seeking?
Ancient Romans wanted god to bless their empire. They could easily say, “In gods we trust.” Yet the earliest Christians recognized the danger of this muddled thinking about God apart from Jesus. The Greek word “martyr” literally means “witness.” However, early in the history of the Church it came to indicate those who would sacrifice their lives rather than deny Jesus. This commitment to Jesus was a “witness” to the true faith as opposed to the false religion of the pagan gods.
Jesus is the one who gave His life so that we could live eternally. Without His life, death and resurrection, God is simply a judge who will rightly condemn us. May we never be content to be religious or spiritual without Jesus, Our “Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant that I may always confess your holy name and never be guilty of denying you. When I have failed to confess your name, grant me forgiveness. Amen.
God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus
No comments:
Post a Comment