"Consider Him"
Part 2
As we considered in a recent devotional, when the general Truth of Scripture becomes specifically applied to the conditions, circumstances, and situations of life, the power of God in its potential becomes the power of God in its actuality. In terms of our present theme, when we "consider Him" in ways that relate to the specific aspects of life, we realize how present and involved He actually is.
"Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD, this gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise Thee: for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:19-24).
"This gate… this doing… this day." Such truth especially relates to "Consider Him." Who is the Lord Jesus Christ in this specific matter, namely, the blessing, difficulty, or mundane, everyday occurrence? When we find and affirm the Bible's answer, the matter becomes a different thing altogether.
In the pleasures of life, for example, we realize with much gratitude that Christ alone makes possible the bestowal of God's grace upon us. "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ" (Ephesians 2:7). Christ is the source and substance of our blessings.
In the challenges of life, we discover the comfort and enabling to endure made possible by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus in our trusting hearts. "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you… Consider Him, that endured such contradiction against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (John 14:18; Hebrews 12:3). Christ is our "very present help in trouble" and our peace therein (Psalm 46:1; Philippians 4:6-7).
In the everyday matters of life, we recognize that our Lord is present whether we consciously remember the blessed Truth or not. "I am with you always… I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). Christ is the abiding presence and portion of our existence. "I will be with thee" (Isaiah 43:2).
Christ, the Life of our lives always, becomes Christ the Life of our lives applied when we specifically consider who He is and what He does on our behalf. The general knowledge of such truth is necessary. We must know the principled doctrine of God's presence and involvement in our lives. However, specific application by remembrance and affirmation of the Word of God imparts personal devotion to the realities of life. We "consider Him," that is, we trust that the Lord Jesus serves as our Heavenly Father's provision in all things: "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19; emphasis added).
The Christian life is far too vast in scope and measure to be compressed into a two word description. If it could, "Consider Him" would be a strong candidate for our attempt to explain what it means to walk with God. This especially holds true when we see the Lord Jesus along particular pathways whereupon He promises to be all we need to walk in the power of His presence and provision in all things. "Consider Him."
"The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?… In this will I be confident."
(Psalm 27:1; 3)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
(Philippians 1:6)
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