"As For Me"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

(Thanks to Frances for inspiration on this one.  Actually, for all of them, come to think of it! :)  ).

"As For Me"       

     

     "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16).

    It gets personal, doesn't it?  Namely, the life of faith and faithfulness to which our Heavenly Father calls us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

    "Who do you say that I am?"  The question begins our Christian life when the Christ of history becomes, as it were, the Christ of our story.  We must personally respond to the Holy Spirit's application of the Biblical Gospel to our hearts and minds.  "Ye must be born again" declared the Lord Jesus to devout Nicodemus (John 3:7).  Indeed, Nicodemus came to the Lord speaking in corporate terms: "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God" (John 3:2).  The Lord Jesus, however, made it personal to Nicodemus: "Ye must be born again."  This is the case in all who truly come to know the Lord's saving grace.  Many believe, but have not been born again because "with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness" (Romans 10:10).  The Christ who "died for all" must become the Christ who died for me (II Corinthians 5:15).

   The same holds true for the living of our Christian lives subsequent to the new birth.  

    "Am I trusting God and submitted to His glory, will, and eternal purpose in Christ regarding the matter at hand?  Do I merely know Him in general, historical terms regarding the particular challenge I face in this day or this moment?  Or do I know Him in the personal, living terms that result from relating to God by His Spirit and His Word?  Is the Christ of history the Christ of this particular story to me?"  

    We will answer this question throughout our Christian life, over and over and over again.  This presents the wonderful opportunity of consistently relating to God and knowing His promise and provision in Christ.  Great responsibility also challenges us as our personal appropriation of God's grace regarding the matter at hand prepares us to honor Him and encourage others to personally seek Him.  "We" must become "me."  This is the promise of a Christ who can and must be known in the only terms that satisfy the heart of God, and that fill our own hearts with His realized presence, peace, and power.  Or, as the Psalmist affirmed…

"As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness."

(Psalm 17:15)

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

 (Joshua 24:15)

Weekly Memory Verse

    The Lord is good to all, and His tendermercies are over all His works.

(Psalm 145:9)