"The proper focus of holiness is not on being set apart from something (i.e., the world), but on being set apart for something."

- Michael Horton
It's All About Jesus

It’s all about Jesus. Really, it is. A few recent best-selling Christian books have been telling people, “It’s not about you.” That’s true actually. We don’t like to hear that. But it’s true. If all of history isn’t about me or you, then what is it about?

Jesus.

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27 NIV).


The Old Testament is all about Jesus. The New Testament is all about Jesus. I also believe that all of history is about Jesus. (I like to think of history as HIS story.) And so I also believe that the story of your family, the story of your church, the story of YOU, is all about Jesus.

Jesus should be on our lips, our minds and our hearts. He should be a part of all we say, do, think, and plan. But not just a part. He should be the basis for all that we do.

Every now and then a new Christian book or Christian teacher takes the churches by storm. (Just a few names I've observed: C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, Hal Lindsey, Billy Graham, Max Lucado, Henry Blackaby, Bruce Wilkinson, John Eldredge, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren) When one of these authors gets influential we hear Christians saying their name a lot or quoting their books. What a certain author thinks will be cited in committee meetings and Sunday School classes. There’s nothing wrong with learning from another Christian or quoting an author but every time it happens, I wonder if we shouldn’t be more influenced by Jesus. We should be referring to Jesus, saying his name, talking about what he would think and quoting him.

How can we do that more? I think it happens not only by loving him, but by admiring him, respecting him, and thinking that he is the smartest, most wonderful person you’ve ever known.
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!” (Romans 5:7-9).

What a wonderful savior! My prayer for you is that your life would be all about Jesus. May all that you do, say and live point to and glorify our Savior.

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 24-25).

Trackbacks:

Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/4565.

Comments on "It's All About Jesus":
1. Shrode - 05/05/2008 12:09 pm CDT

This post was inspired by this excellent post by Bill.

2. Granny in the Pew - 05/06/2008 3:29 am CDT

Amen Brother! Sometimes I think we point to others who are Christians and in the spot light at the moment to authenticate that our beliefs are true rather than pointing to Jesus the source of our beliefs and all truth. If I've quoted John Bisagno one time I've done it a hundred times because he rightly divided the word but I do try to point to a verse as the basis for his teaching on a certain point.

3. Laura "LeeLee" - 05/06/2008 6:25 pm CDT

Excellent! It is my belief that we need to return to our first love: Jesus Christ. We are called to make Him our first allegiance and point of identification. We are, first and foremost, to identify with Jesus Christ and to become His disciples.

I believe it's human nature to look to human beings rather than God - in His name even. We need to really focus on Jesus Christ as Christians. Too often, I think, it becomes kind of "second nature" to look to our leaders as if they were the mediators between us and Jesus... as communicators for Jesus Christ. We don't need mediators between us and Jesus. Jesus is our mediator between us and God.

Personal relationship has to do with Jesus alone holding the highest place in our hearts, our primary focus, as well as our first and foremost identification with Him and allegiance to Him as His disciples.

It's not detracting from any gift given to the body to say: Look to Jesus! Fix your gaze upon Him.

Great post. Blessings. Grace and peace, "LeeLee"

Leave a Comment:
Name:
URL: (optional)
Email: (optional - will not be published)
Comment: