Friday, December 11, 2009

December 11, 2009

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:14-15
Jesus became just like us - except different!
Jesus became just like us so we could become different!
Here is some more great news about Christmas, God got personally involved in our world - in your life!
Think about this, the God Who is omniscient (possesses all knowledge) didn't settle for second-hand knowledge. If you believe that God has all knowledge and knows everything, then you must be impressed that knowing about the human condition, God chose to get personally involved.
Are you ready for some more mind-blowing truths?
God put on flesh and came to earth in the Person of Jesus - that is amazing in itself, isn't it? But as amazzng it is that He humbled Himself and came it is even MORE amazing why He came!
He came to be tempted! You and I hate to be tempted but He came TO BE tempted! Why? So that He could more completely identify with you and what you face every day!
Why would He do that?
Because one of the roles Jesus fills is as a High Priest Who intereceeds for you and me. By experiencing first hand the temptations you face on a regular basis, He can know how to more accurately interceed for you!
He did that for me?
Yes! In fact, it is playing out in heaven right now. That temptation you are struggling with right now? He is praying for you about that right now before His Father! And He can because He knows because He faced it, too!
Secondly, He came to suffer! Just as you flee from temptation and do your best to avoid it, you also do your best to avoid suffering. BUT HE CHOSE TO COME AND SUFFER!
Why would He do that?
Same reason. He wants to be able to identify with you in your suffering. Why? So He can comfort you and strengthen you because you will never suffer more than He did.
He also came to suffer so He could die to atone for your sin! He took your sin upon Himself so that you could be delivered from the penalty and the power of sin! He left His Father and was alienated from His Father so that through His sacrifice you can come into fellowship with God. Now when you face temptation or when you suffer you never have to do it alone! You can have His presence and His power!
God got personally involved in your struggles! That is the great news of Christmas!
Now it is up to you - will you get personally involved with Him?