It has been a while since I blogged. That is because my schedule has been rather hectic (and that is being polite!). Because my life has been so chaotic I have been thinking more and more about how much I treasure the quiet times I spend with God. Our Mission has been studying the New Monastic movement lately and I believe I am being tested to see whether or not I will make time to be more in touch with God.
All of us face almost impossible schedules and live lives inundated by noise and information. But as we are confronted by these distractions God is whispering to us with His still, small voice saying, "Be still and know that I am God." Are we too busy to listen? To ignore God is to risk spiritual and physical peril. God wants to spend time with us, not only for His sake, but for ours as well. We need to remember that God is the God of the Sabbath. The Sabbath, according to Jesus, was created for us so that we can recharge both spiritually and physically.
I have opted to seek God more and more throughout the day. I have always observed the Morning and Evening offices of prayer, but I have recently been trying to pray the Divine Hours throughout the day. I have made it a priority to pray throughout the day according to the ancient monastic tradition of praying the hours of the Church. I carry a missal with me and pray at noon, at compline, at the midnight hour, etc. These five minute interludes throughout the day have helped me stay to focused on what is truly important in my life, my relationship with God.
As I seek to follow the voice of God I have become more intentional in my prayer and Bible reading. The monks lived lives of work, prayer, and study. Their lives were, and are, disciplined and centered upon these ancient practices. I have made the decision to follow these practices in the midst of my chaos to bring order, peace, and power back into my life through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to do the same. Take time to listen to God. He always takes time to listen to you!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Good Friday Meditation
It started in the Garden of Eden. A simple bite of a forbidden fruit set in motion a catastrophic series of events. By a conscious decision to ignore the word of God death entered into our world. Communion with God was damaged, our bodies began to decay, and nature rebelled against us.
By rejecting God we surrendered to Satan. We gave up the dominion God meant for us to have over creation and handed it over to the Prince of Darkness. Ever since then our world has been wrecked by wars, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and disease. Ever since then our lives have been wrecked by murder, jealousy, envy, guilt, and pain. Our lives are plagued by doubt and fear. But even in the midst of the chaos we've created and the chaos that Satan perpetuates - there is hope! Even as man was sinning in the Garden of Eden God was setting in motion a plan of rescue.
God promised a Savior. He would be born of a woman and bruised by the serpent, but He would crush the head of the serpent with His heel.
Throughout the long and winding annals of history God has continued to promise the coming of a Savior and He has foreshadowed His coming. He gave us a glimpse of the Savior on Mount Moriah as Abraham prepared to sacrifice his only son as an offering to God. He gave us a glimpse of the Savior as Moses led the Israelites to safety through the waters of the Red Sea. He gave us a glimpse of the Savior as David defeated the enemies of Israel and made preparation for the House of God. And throughout the course of history God has sent priests, prophets, judges, kings, and angels to tell us - "Do not be afraid, there is hope, the Savior is coming!"
The Savior came, not in splendor, but in swaddling clothes. He came not from a wealthy family, but from the family of a carpenter. He came not riding on a royal stallion, but on a borrowed donkey. And now He is hanging on a cross between two thieves. Where is the hope?
The hope is found in the words, "It is finished." As He hung bleeding and mangled on the cross, suffocating under His own body weight, He struggled to utter these words. He pulled up with His arms as the nails tore the flesh of His hands, He pushed up with His legs as the nail tore the flesh of His feet, just to get enough air into His lungs to utter each word - "It" - "is" - "finished." And as that final word rolled past His lips with His final breath His life left with it. He was dead.
When the world heard these words they mourned in defeat. When Satan and the host of Hell heard these words they trembled in fear. When God the Father, the Holy Spirit, the holy Angels, and all of the saints of Heaven heard these words they began to celebrate. Jesus wasn't announcing His defeat - He was announcing His victory! St. Paul tells us that the last enemy is death. Jesus died to conquer death. He was facing the enemy on its own turf. In the Creed we say, "He descended to the dead." Why? To announce His victory over death and to set the captives free.
What was finished at the Cross was our salvation. All of the sin, guilt, loneliness, depression, and chaos in our lives can now be given to the Savior and He will make our lives right again. He has broken the bonds of sin and death. He has taken back the dominion from Satan and will restore it to us if we are willing to live in Him.
That's why we call this Good Friday. It signaled the beginning of the end for evil and it points us to the ultimate victory found in the Resurrection.
By rejecting God we surrendered to Satan. We gave up the dominion God meant for us to have over creation and handed it over to the Prince of Darkness. Ever since then our world has been wrecked by wars, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and disease. Ever since then our lives have been wrecked by murder, jealousy, envy, guilt, and pain. Our lives are plagued by doubt and fear. But even in the midst of the chaos we've created and the chaos that Satan perpetuates - there is hope! Even as man was sinning in the Garden of Eden God was setting in motion a plan of rescue.
God promised a Savior. He would be born of a woman and bruised by the serpent, but He would crush the head of the serpent with His heel.
Throughout the long and winding annals of history God has continued to promise the coming of a Savior and He has foreshadowed His coming. He gave us a glimpse of the Savior on Mount Moriah as Abraham prepared to sacrifice his only son as an offering to God. He gave us a glimpse of the Savior as Moses led the Israelites to safety through the waters of the Red Sea. He gave us a glimpse of the Savior as David defeated the enemies of Israel and made preparation for the House of God. And throughout the course of history God has sent priests, prophets, judges, kings, and angels to tell us - "Do not be afraid, there is hope, the Savior is coming!"
The Savior came, not in splendor, but in swaddling clothes. He came not from a wealthy family, but from the family of a carpenter. He came not riding on a royal stallion, but on a borrowed donkey. And now He is hanging on a cross between two thieves. Where is the hope?
The hope is found in the words, "It is finished." As He hung bleeding and mangled on the cross, suffocating under His own body weight, He struggled to utter these words. He pulled up with His arms as the nails tore the flesh of His hands, He pushed up with His legs as the nail tore the flesh of His feet, just to get enough air into His lungs to utter each word - "It" - "is" - "finished." And as that final word rolled past His lips with His final breath His life left with it. He was dead.
When the world heard these words they mourned in defeat. When Satan and the host of Hell heard these words they trembled in fear. When God the Father, the Holy Spirit, the holy Angels, and all of the saints of Heaven heard these words they began to celebrate. Jesus wasn't announcing His defeat - He was announcing His victory! St. Paul tells us that the last enemy is death. Jesus died to conquer death. He was facing the enemy on its own turf. In the Creed we say, "He descended to the dead." Why? To announce His victory over death and to set the captives free.
What was finished at the Cross was our salvation. All of the sin, guilt, loneliness, depression, and chaos in our lives can now be given to the Savior and He will make our lives right again. He has broken the bonds of sin and death. He has taken back the dominion from Satan and will restore it to us if we are willing to live in Him.
That's why we call this Good Friday. It signaled the beginning of the end for evil and it points us to the ultimate victory found in the Resurrection.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Time to Pray
I'm angry! I'm angry at a Congress that has ignored the will of the people. I'm angry at the Church for not rising up in holy indignation. But most of all I'm angry with myself. I haven't prayed for my country like I should.
The one person I'm not angry with is God. He's been waiting for me to pray. He's been waiting for the Church to pray. He's been waiting for the people of this country to pray. He's been waiting for you to pray. But we haven't prayed. We've been too busy with protesting and letter writing. We've been too busy with social programming and evangelistic crusades.
If we want to save the soul of our nation and the souls of the lost we have to stop being busy and we have to start praying. We have to pray like our lives depend on it because it does! God isn't moved by protests or programs. He's moved by prayer...not pat petitions and perfunctory prayers, but by gut-wrenching, souls-searching, worshipful prayer. Jesus conquered Satan, death, and Hell by prayer. What makes us think we can do things any differently?
I've been reading a book called "Punkmonk" about the 24-7 prayer groups known as the Boiler Rooms. These groups have developed a 24-7, 365 day a year rhythm of prayer based on the ancient monastic model. They haven't been out protesting...they've been praying and where they set up camp and pray they have seen souls saved, bodies healed, lives and communities changed. They have paid the price with lack of sleep and calloused knees to reach the heart of God. But reach it they have and God is moving their midst.
I want God to move in my midst. I want to touch the heart of God. The question I have to ask myself, and the question you must ask yourself is this: Am I willing to pay the price? Am I willing to give up the things that consume me and my time to spend time alone with the God of the universe and pour out my heart to Him in praise and worship? Until we're willing to do that everything else is just a joke.
I'm not saying that we should stop doing all of the other things I've mentioned. What I am saying is that until we get our priorities right with God everything else is useless. We must seek God and His righteousness and then everything else will fall into place. As the author of Punkmonk says, "The currency is prayer, the price is massive, but the prize is glorious." What are you going to do?
The time to pray is NOW! Pay the price and the high prize of our calling in Jesus Christ will indeed be glorious.
The one person I'm not angry with is God. He's been waiting for me to pray. He's been waiting for the Church to pray. He's been waiting for the people of this country to pray. He's been waiting for you to pray. But we haven't prayed. We've been too busy with protesting and letter writing. We've been too busy with social programming and evangelistic crusades.
If we want to save the soul of our nation and the souls of the lost we have to stop being busy and we have to start praying. We have to pray like our lives depend on it because it does! God isn't moved by protests or programs. He's moved by prayer...not pat petitions and perfunctory prayers, but by gut-wrenching, souls-searching, worshipful prayer. Jesus conquered Satan, death, and Hell by prayer. What makes us think we can do things any differently?
I've been reading a book called "Punkmonk" about the 24-7 prayer groups known as the Boiler Rooms. These groups have developed a 24-7, 365 day a year rhythm of prayer based on the ancient monastic model. They haven't been out protesting...they've been praying and where they set up camp and pray they have seen souls saved, bodies healed, lives and communities changed. They have paid the price with lack of sleep and calloused knees to reach the heart of God. But reach it they have and God is moving their midst.
I want God to move in my midst. I want to touch the heart of God. The question I have to ask myself, and the question you must ask yourself is this: Am I willing to pay the price? Am I willing to give up the things that consume me and my time to spend time alone with the God of the universe and pour out my heart to Him in praise and worship? Until we're willing to do that everything else is just a joke.
I'm not saying that we should stop doing all of the other things I've mentioned. What I am saying is that until we get our priorities right with God everything else is useless. We must seek God and His righteousness and then everything else will fall into place. As the author of Punkmonk says, "The currency is prayer, the price is massive, but the prize is glorious." What are you going to do?
The time to pray is NOW! Pay the price and the high prize of our calling in Jesus Christ will indeed be glorious.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Temptation
Temptation...It is something that is common to every human being. We are all tempted to do that which is wrong even when we know the right thing to do. It is a basic human trait, an instinct. It is part of our fallen, sinful human nature. Notice that I used the word "basic." It is the lowest common denominator amongst us. It is the lowest of the low.
When bad things happen we revert back to our base. If our base is good we will do the right thing. If our base is bad we will screw up royally! Any police officer or soldier will tell you that in the heat of combat you revert back to your basic training. If the training was good you will perform well. If not, you may die. Good training helps you survive the fight. The same is true for us as Christians. We need a good, solid biblical base to overcome temptation. We also need the will to overcome temptation.
In Luke 4:1-13 we are told the story of Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days and battling the temptation that Satan throws at him. The text says that He went into the wilderness "led by the Spirit." Jesus had just come from His baptism in the River Jordan and He had been anointed by the Holy Spirit. He was on, what we Christians call, a spiritual high, when He was confronted with one of the most ferocious battles of His earthly life. Jesus was about to be tested by Satan to see if the events at the Jordan River had truly been life-changing events. You see, it is easy to be spiritually high while surrounded by the minister, the congregation, and the Sacraments. It's not so easy when you are all alone.
We know how the story ends. Jesus passed the test! But have you passed yours? Thnakfully Jesus has shown us how we can overcome temptation and pass the test when we too are confronted by evil.
The first thing that Jesus taught us was we must never enter into any spiritual battle without being full of the Holy Spirit. Whether it was a trial in the desert or the horrors of the Cross, Jesus stayed in touch with His Father and empowered by the Spirit. How did He do this? Well, we know that He prayed incessantly. He was always going away into the woods, up on a mountain, or into a garden to pray. He stayed in touch with the Father through prayer. There are no shortcuts here. If you want to stay in touch with God you are going to have to make time to talk to God. But that wasn't all that He did. We also know that He worshiped in the Synagogue weekly. He gained strength from the public worship of God. He celebrated all of the biblical feasts and festivals. He participated in the Sacraments as evidenced by His Baptism. Jesus stayed filled with the Spirit of God by staying in touch with God through prayer, worship, and sacrament.
Secondly, we know where Jesus' base was - it was rooted in Scripture. He was trained in the Hebrew Scriptures by His parents, the Rabbis, and by self-study. As a good Jew Jesus became a biblical scholar. He had no formal theological training but He absorbed everything He could at home and in the synagogue. Every Christian should be a biblical scholar, immersing themselves in the Word of God.
As we travel through this Lenten season and focus on our human weakenesses and mortality we need to learn the lessons that Jesus has taught us. When we are on a spiritual mountaintop we are going to be attacked by the Evil One. When we are at our weakest we are going to be attacked by the Evil One. Wherever you are in life you are going to be tempted. Are you ready for the attack? Is your base solid and is your will sound? Get prepared for the fight by getting in touch with God. When we are enlightened by the Word and strengthened by the Sacraments and Spirit we can withstand anything the world has to throw at us.
Get ready, stand firm, and overcome through and with Jesus Christ our Lord.
When bad things happen we revert back to our base. If our base is good we will do the right thing. If our base is bad we will screw up royally! Any police officer or soldier will tell you that in the heat of combat you revert back to your basic training. If the training was good you will perform well. If not, you may die. Good training helps you survive the fight. The same is true for us as Christians. We need a good, solid biblical base to overcome temptation. We also need the will to overcome temptation.
In Luke 4:1-13 we are told the story of Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days and battling the temptation that Satan throws at him. The text says that He went into the wilderness "led by the Spirit." Jesus had just come from His baptism in the River Jordan and He had been anointed by the Holy Spirit. He was on, what we Christians call, a spiritual high, when He was confronted with one of the most ferocious battles of His earthly life. Jesus was about to be tested by Satan to see if the events at the Jordan River had truly been life-changing events. You see, it is easy to be spiritually high while surrounded by the minister, the congregation, and the Sacraments. It's not so easy when you are all alone.
We know how the story ends. Jesus passed the test! But have you passed yours? Thnakfully Jesus has shown us how we can overcome temptation and pass the test when we too are confronted by evil.
The first thing that Jesus taught us was we must never enter into any spiritual battle without being full of the Holy Spirit. Whether it was a trial in the desert or the horrors of the Cross, Jesus stayed in touch with His Father and empowered by the Spirit. How did He do this? Well, we know that He prayed incessantly. He was always going away into the woods, up on a mountain, or into a garden to pray. He stayed in touch with the Father through prayer. There are no shortcuts here. If you want to stay in touch with God you are going to have to make time to talk to God. But that wasn't all that He did. We also know that He worshiped in the Synagogue weekly. He gained strength from the public worship of God. He celebrated all of the biblical feasts and festivals. He participated in the Sacraments as evidenced by His Baptism. Jesus stayed filled with the Spirit of God by staying in touch with God through prayer, worship, and sacrament.
Secondly, we know where Jesus' base was - it was rooted in Scripture. He was trained in the Hebrew Scriptures by His parents, the Rabbis, and by self-study. As a good Jew Jesus became a biblical scholar. He had no formal theological training but He absorbed everything He could at home and in the synagogue. Every Christian should be a biblical scholar, immersing themselves in the Word of God.
As we travel through this Lenten season and focus on our human weakenesses and mortality we need to learn the lessons that Jesus has taught us. When we are on a spiritual mountaintop we are going to be attacked by the Evil One. When we are at our weakest we are going to be attacked by the Evil One. Wherever you are in life you are going to be tempted. Are you ready for the attack? Is your base solid and is your will sound? Get prepared for the fight by getting in touch with God. When we are enlightened by the Word and strengthened by the Sacraments and Spirit we can withstand anything the world has to throw at us.
Get ready, stand firm, and overcome through and with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
God is an Artist
James Johnson once wrote that "God is an artist, not a mathematician." These words hit me like a ton of bricks. In this age of post-Enlightenment we tend to break everything down to its most basic components for analysis. This includes the Bible and the symbols of our Faith.
To enjoy and understand a beautiful painting one does not seek to determine the chemical makeup of the paint, but rather stand back and look at the entire picture. We need to treat the things of God in the same fashion. Rather than break down the actual composition of the Bread and Wine of the Sacrament we need to step back and look at the big picture. Rather than break down word by word a text of Scripture we need to step back and listen to what the entire text is saying to us.
We have made Christianity a scientific endeavor rather than a matter of faith.
God is an Artist, the Artist, and we need to enjoy His handiwork. I'm tired of arguing over which denomination is right and which is wrong. We need to step back and see the Church as a whole. The Communion of Saints is made up of many parts and when these parts are viewed as a whole throughout the course of history and into the future we see a thing of mystery and beauty.
If you want to look through a microscope and see the cells of the flower be my guest, but you are going to miss the beauty of the flower. To enjoy a flower one has to use all of the senses. Our Faith is a beautiful flower. We should worship God with all of our senses and this requires us to experience the art the Artist has given us. When we do this we will truly be moved in our souls and we will truly believe.
To enjoy and understand a beautiful painting one does not seek to determine the chemical makeup of the paint, but rather stand back and look at the entire picture. We need to treat the things of God in the same fashion. Rather than break down the actual composition of the Bread and Wine of the Sacrament we need to step back and look at the big picture. Rather than break down word by word a text of Scripture we need to step back and listen to what the entire text is saying to us.
We have made Christianity a scientific endeavor rather than a matter of faith.
God is an Artist, the Artist, and we need to enjoy His handiwork. I'm tired of arguing over which denomination is right and which is wrong. We need to step back and see the Church as a whole. The Communion of Saints is made up of many parts and when these parts are viewed as a whole throughout the course of history and into the future we see a thing of mystery and beauty.
If you want to look through a microscope and see the cells of the flower be my guest, but you are going to miss the beauty of the flower. To enjoy a flower one has to use all of the senses. Our Faith is a beautiful flower. We should worship God with all of our senses and this requires us to experience the art the Artist has given us. When we do this we will truly be moved in our souls and we will truly believe.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Cheers!
Do you remember the television show "Cheers"? I loved that show. It was about a bar where everybody knows your name. There was a sense of community about that bar where everyone knew everyone and they accepted each other for who they were. Isn't that what the church is supposed to be?
Most of you know that All Souls Mission is meeting in Beth and Tina's home right now. We've had discussions of looking for a building to have church in but everytime we do the words of our archbishop comes back to my mind. He reminded us that we are the church. Wherever we are is the church. He also reminded us that the Celtic Christians, as did the early Church, met and worshiped God in homes.
As we worshiped together this past Sunday it struck me how much our Mission is like "Cheers." We know each others names and we accept each other just as we are. We are a community. When I forget the words during the Eucharist everyone just gives me a smile and we continue on. When our singing doesn't jive with the music we laugh and continue on. When the dog breaks lose from his cage and joins in on the service we pat him on the head and keep worshiping God.
I like worshiping in a house. There is something extraordinary about tranforming an ordinary living room into a sacred place to worship the Almighty. I feel connected with the roots of our Faith and my Celtic ancestors.
In a setting like this there is no room for pretense and no way to hide our foibles and our faults. We are who we are. But part of being who we are together is growing into who God would have us to be together. When I preach in this setting if someone has a question they can ask it. The formality of a church building is gone and the environment of friendship is present. We gather together around the Word and Sacrament as the family of God. As a family we share that Word and Holy Meal in the spirit of unity and openess.
Don't misunderstand me. I love the glorious churches and cathedrals of Christianity. They stand as monuments to the Glory of God and act as visible signs of His Presence among us. But I also love the small gatherings of Christians who huddle in homes, caves, groves, etc. to share their faith. They have been and will always be the roots of our heritage and the backbone of our Faith. Cathedrals don't change peoples lives. People empowered by the Holy Spirit of God change peoples lives as they live and worship in community.
So whether you are going to a formal building to worship God or someone's house, I say "Cheers!" Even if everyone doesn't know your name, God does, and in the final analysis that's all that really matters.
Most of you know that All Souls Mission is meeting in Beth and Tina's home right now. We've had discussions of looking for a building to have church in but everytime we do the words of our archbishop comes back to my mind. He reminded us that we are the church. Wherever we are is the church. He also reminded us that the Celtic Christians, as did the early Church, met and worshiped God in homes.
As we worshiped together this past Sunday it struck me how much our Mission is like "Cheers." We know each others names and we accept each other just as we are. We are a community. When I forget the words during the Eucharist everyone just gives me a smile and we continue on. When our singing doesn't jive with the music we laugh and continue on. When the dog breaks lose from his cage and joins in on the service we pat him on the head and keep worshiping God.
I like worshiping in a house. There is something extraordinary about tranforming an ordinary living room into a sacred place to worship the Almighty. I feel connected with the roots of our Faith and my Celtic ancestors.
In a setting like this there is no room for pretense and no way to hide our foibles and our faults. We are who we are. But part of being who we are together is growing into who God would have us to be together. When I preach in this setting if someone has a question they can ask it. The formality of a church building is gone and the environment of friendship is present. We gather together around the Word and Sacrament as the family of God. As a family we share that Word and Holy Meal in the spirit of unity and openess.
Don't misunderstand me. I love the glorious churches and cathedrals of Christianity. They stand as monuments to the Glory of God and act as visible signs of His Presence among us. But I also love the small gatherings of Christians who huddle in homes, caves, groves, etc. to share their faith. They have been and will always be the roots of our heritage and the backbone of our Faith. Cathedrals don't change peoples lives. People empowered by the Holy Spirit of God change peoples lives as they live and worship in community.
So whether you are going to a formal building to worship God or someone's house, I say "Cheers!" Even if everyone doesn't know your name, God does, and in the final analysis that's all that really matters.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Word Became Flesh
One of the things that intrigues me the most about the Christian faith is the Christmas story. Not because of the stars or shepherds or even the angels, but rather because of the mystery of the incarnation. When we say, "God is with us" we literally mean it. He became one of us.
In John 1:14 the Bible says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." John, unlike Matthew and Luke, gives us the Christmas story from a theological perspective. He delves into the mystery of the incarnation. When John used the phrase, "...dwelt among us..." he was alluding back to the Old Testament scenes of God dwelling among men in the Tabernacle and the Temple. The Shekinah Glory would fall from heaven and rest on the Ark of the Covenant...God with us. But now the Shekinah Glory rests in a Man. No longer is God found in tent or temple, now He is found walking the streets among men, flesh and bones.
The Word (Logos in Greek) became one of us. What a staggering thought. In the Greek "Logos" means "a saying, decree, doctrine, precept, wisdom, reason." Jesus is all of these things! He is the saying, the decree of God. It was through Jesus that God the Father spoke the worlds into existence. Jesus is our doctrine and our precept. He is the all in all when it comes to the Bible and our belief. We are to know nothing but Christ, and Him crucified. He is wisdom and reason. God's thoughts are higher than out thoughts and these thoughts find their summation in Jesus. He is the Logos of God.
In Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament he says that "Logos signifies both the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed." This sounds alot like the definition of a sacrament, an outward sign of an inward grace. It is for this reason that many theologians call Jesus Christ, the God-Man, the Primordial Sacrament. Jesus is the visible and tangible reality of all that the Bible speaks of. He is the grace of God incarnate.
God is with us! What a joyful expression. Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, the God-Man, the Logos. O come, let us adore Him...Christ the Lord!
In John 1:14 the Bible says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." John, unlike Matthew and Luke, gives us the Christmas story from a theological perspective. He delves into the mystery of the incarnation. When John used the phrase, "...dwelt among us..." he was alluding back to the Old Testament scenes of God dwelling among men in the Tabernacle and the Temple. The Shekinah Glory would fall from heaven and rest on the Ark of the Covenant...God with us. But now the Shekinah Glory rests in a Man. No longer is God found in tent or temple, now He is found walking the streets among men, flesh and bones.
The Word (Logos in Greek) became one of us. What a staggering thought. In the Greek "Logos" means "a saying, decree, doctrine, precept, wisdom, reason." Jesus is all of these things! He is the saying, the decree of God. It was through Jesus that God the Father spoke the worlds into existence. Jesus is our doctrine and our precept. He is the all in all when it comes to the Bible and our belief. We are to know nothing but Christ, and Him crucified. He is wisdom and reason. God's thoughts are higher than out thoughts and these thoughts find their summation in Jesus. He is the Logos of God.
In Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament he says that "Logos signifies both the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed." This sounds alot like the definition of a sacrament, an outward sign of an inward grace. It is for this reason that many theologians call Jesus Christ, the God-Man, the Primordial Sacrament. Jesus is the visible and tangible reality of all that the Bible speaks of. He is the grace of God incarnate.
God is with us! What a joyful expression. Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, the God-Man, the Logos. O come, let us adore Him...Christ the Lord!
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