Don’t look past Jesus

Posted on July 5, 2007 by Brian

We have a tendency to “look past” Jesus. As if he is the means to a further end. As if Jesus is one ingredient(a key one, to be sure) in the recipe to conform us and the world to God’s plan. Jesus has done his part - now we need to move on to the next step.

But, the plan of God is fulfilled and complete in Christ. Jesus is the final step. In fact, he was and is the first and only step. Everything else must be subservient to that fact. If we move on from Jesus, we move on from the foundation upon which everything else is built. Nothing stands unless it is connected to him.

We do not accept Jesus and then move on to other methods of sanctification or greater spiritual maturity. All of these things are found only in Jesus and once we forget that we risk losing the essence of the Gospel in exchange for self-effort, principles, and mere morality. Even reliance on the Spirit can become reliance on a source of energy rather than on a person.

Jesus is inextricably entangled in every breath of scripture. He is the hope and savior of all creation. Don’t look past him.

4 Comments »

Comment by Rong

July 6, 2007 @ 6:02 am

Volumes have been written to say what you’ve said in a few short sentences. Why? Because it’s so easy to do exactly what you’re saying not to do. Each morning when we rise we need to remind ourselves of this seemingly simple truth.
Thanks for my morning reminder!

Comment by Lynn

July 6, 2007 @ 9:44 pm

Brian, yesterday I tried leaving two comments on this post, but they didn’t go through. Hopefully, today will be different!

This is a great entry! I wish I could keep the truth of this always at the front of my mind, but I confess to straying and looking past Jesus often. What you wrote is a good reminder.

Comment by Brian

July 6, 2007 @ 11:13 pm

Rong & Lynn - Thanks so much for the encouraging comments! It does seem like a simple truth but we created beings tend to confuse things. I need to write these things out occasionally to remind myself as well.

Lynn - Just checked the spam trap and your comments from yesterday got caught in there for some reason. Will have to do some more investigation as to why. Supposedly once I approved your very first comment it should accept everything thereafter.

Comment by jlove

July 7, 2007 @ 9:09 am

Why do you always have to simplify things for me? ;)

Well said, Brian. I definitely think it is easy for us (me) to simply incorporate ‘Jesus’ into our ‘7 steps to a successful Christian life in good ole USA’. Thus minimizing who He is and losing sight of the true meaning of our Faith.

Thanks for the reminder!

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