Jesus, Who are You?
A LIVING SACRIFICE
Our humanity will never supersede Christ's divinity, and I am fine with that.
Easter should be a sobering moment for each of us. It should set our minds on matter of eternity. It should remind us that regardless of one's educational accomplishments, degrees or pedigrees, we all still have a lot to learn about Christ. Favor alone gives us the opportunity to learn more about Jesus (hopefully) while continuing to be in awe of how little we know. The Holy Spirit provokes us to keep pursuing the center of the Savior's essence by staying in his presence.
If Easter does nothing else, I hope it peaks your curiosity about Christ.
This year, I pray we all mature to respect our lack of eternal knowledge while continuing to seek out the fullness of God.
The piece below is an excerpt from my book, GOD 'n You: Finding your Place in Forever. In it, I pursue the possibility of knowing my Savior better. May the child in me never lose curiosity about her Heavenly Father:
I do not know if anyone can ever be fully prepared to go beyond the veil of our presumptions when it comes to God, but I had to try. Writing the piece below helped me move past my hesitations about the Christ I didn’t know. As you read it, consider how embarking on a new reality in and about Christ could impact your journey.
A Prayer for the Periphery
God, you’ve done so much for me. You’ve made ways and opened doors, built bridges, torn down walls, hedged me in, and set me free.
But none of that is important right now. You are.
You. Only you. Right now, you are all that matters, so don’t let me be distracted by your grace, enamored with your mercy, and not see you. Your movements are too great for me to keep up with. I could create an entirely separate identity of you based on what you have done for me alone, but I don’t want to. I want to know you. I want to see you. I’ve experienced your presence, but it is your essence I desire now.
Jesus … WHO are YOU?
Can my mind even conceive what you want to reveal? Is it too much for me? Is that why I run to the periphery—a safe, distant place where I can create a “Jesus” I can live with?
Jesus … who ARE you?
What I thought was clear about you yesterday is unclear today. I see through a glass darkly. Maybe I could resign myself to wait until you come again so I can fully understand then, but I don’t want to do that either. You wanted the disciples to know who you were before the cross would cast its shadow. You invested the time in them. Invest it in me. I’m still asking …
Jesus … WHO are YOU?
This world is dark enough. Don’t leave me in the dark about YOU. I will SEEK you, so I may SEE you. I need glimpses of your light. You are the lamp unto my feet.
Forgive me when I don’t see our time for what it is: Precious … Sacred … Quality … Necessary like food and water.
Forgive me when I didn’t see our time as mine to have and to hold. I could say, “God knows my heart,” but you really do … know … my … heart … don’t you?
I see you in the earth, in the movements that make up my surroundings, but who saved my soul?
WHO SAVED MY SOUL?
God, who is your son that would do such a thing? Tell me. Teach me. I will take whatever I can handle for now. I know greater is later but give me the JESUS I need NOW. The one at your right hand. Looking out for me today. Praying for me today. Smiling at me … today.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.: (John 14:18–19 NIV)
I can always visit the periphery of your grace. It’s all around me. But I don’t want to live there. Let obedience and a desperation to know you be my compass to your center.
Let me live in Jesus’s name. Amen.
~
This year, live in Jesus' name.
Happy Resurrection.
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Equipping You for Intimacy, Transparency, and Destiny with Christ.
