Jesus' Characteristics, From Mom

What a great focus for the upcoming new year.  Digging deeper into who Jesus is and what He is like. How about making getting to know Him better a goal of this new year?  I realize it should be something we consciously do all the time....but you know us humans, things seem to slip away if not brought to the forefront of our thinking every so often.  I know that is me to a tee!  So let's start looking at what Mom has to say about the characteristics of this wonderful, awesome Jesus we serve. And if you don't know Him already, well maybe this will help introduce You to this being that created you, loves you unconditionally, came to earth to save you, and desires your company, fellowship, and worship forever!

God is"  patient, love, forgiveness, merciful, listens, answers, attitude, humility.

Philippians 2:5-11  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.  Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus ever knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Christ has always existed with God.  Christ is equal to God because He is God. 1 John 1:1  We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen.  We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands.  He is the Word of life.  

Colossians 1:15-22  Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can't see--such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.  Everything was created through Him and for Him.  He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.  Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body.  He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.  So He is first in everything.  For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.  This includes you who were once far away from God.  You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions.  Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body.  As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.  (These last few verses are a whole other God visit for me!)

Though Christ is God, He became a man in order to fulfill God's plan of salvation for all people.  Christ did not just have the appearance of a man - He actually became human to identify with our sins.  Christ voluntarily laid aside His divine rights and privileges out of love for His Father.  Christ died on the cross for our sins so we wouldn't have to face eternal death.  God glorified Christ because of His obedience.  God raised Christ to His original position at the Father's right hand, where He will reign forever as our Lorn and judge.

How can I do anything less than praise Christ as my Lord and dedicate myself to His service?

From me:

Jesus.  Humble.  Loving.  Obedient.  Servant.  Compassionate.  Creator.  Sustainer.  Savior. Peacemaker.  Lord.  King.  That is who we see here.  That is the Man and the God that we love and serve.  The One who is deserving of all our praise, all our devotion.  He is the one who gave up heaven to save us, to deliver us from eternal death and darkness.  I echo Mom when she says "How can I do anything less than praise Christ as my Lord and dedicate myself to His service."  How can I do any less than join in with heavenly hosts who cry out and sing: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered--to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing....Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever."  (Revelation 5:11, 13).  

Lord, I praise You.  I thank You.  I worship and give You all glory!  My life, my heart belong to You. Let each moment of my day reflect this fact!  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

Spend time each day learning more about this wonder God we serve.  Set aside a specific time just for this practice...let it become a habit.  One verse, one chapter, whatever and wherever God leads in this study.  I have a feeling it will be amazing!