1 Thing Matters

It is easy for us to feel confident. We look at our track record of mostly good deeds (or at least better than others) and feel pretty good about ourselves. Or, we look at the good direction our life has been taking - compared to others whose lives appear to be in shambles - and we conclude that God’s favor must mean we’re doing something right. Be careful! Such an attitude, such conclusions leave us ripe for a devastating fall and a wake-up call to reality. If we look for any measure of confidence or security in ourselves when it comes to our relationship with God, we will be let down. Thankfully, despite our own overconfidence, God is faithful - so much so that his faithfulness toward us crushes our mistaken self-security.

"The Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

Last week at the start of our “Crushed” series, we talked about temptation. This week we see what is at the center of every temptation: promise of a shortcut to glory. Even in a world as sharply divided as ours, there is near universal agreement that the preferred path to glory is the shortest and easiest. To walk the path our Savior puts us on, one on which the cross comes before the crown, puts us out of step with the world. Thankfully, the determination required to walk this path starts with our Savior and not with us. Because of his determination, we are offered a glory far superior to anything the world can offer.

"The Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

The blow that comes as a result of a devastating loss, the defeat of personal failure, the despondency felt from guilt or anxiety or depression - these can all crush us emotionally. In a broken world, it is simply a matter of time before we feel crushed. For 1400 years the Church has set aside the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter as a time of repentance and renewal (this time is called “Lent” in the church). During this time, believers humbly acknowledge that sin is the ultimate source of all the crushing moments in life. But Jesus came to do something about it: "The Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

When we are faced with our repeated failures to successfully face temptation, we are crushed. Thankfully, we have a champion who faced temptation with perfect success. Since by faith his victory is ours, and because we have the weapon of his Word, we can find the necessary confidence to face temptation with a newfound strength.

As the season of Epiphany ends with Transfiguration Sunday, we are presented with another paradox. For God's glory to be revealed, it actually must be covered. God's glory needed to be hidden in Christ. It is hidden in the gospel. This is how God enables sinful human beings to see his glory and, rather than turning away in fear, stare at it in wonder for as long as they want. Through today’s paradox, God reveals for us that when his glory is hidden, it is most on display.

Last week we saw the paradoxical relationship between weakness and strength in Christ's kingdom. This week we see how Christ would have us react to those who wrong us or oppose us. Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, to love those who hate us, and to repay evil with good. Logic would say that is a recipe for being walked all over. Yet, have we not seen this tactic work? When we were Christ's enemies, he loved us to the point of death. He repays our daily evil with the daily goodness of his mercy. In doing so, he has won us for himself. Following the paradox Jesus lays out today is not a caving in or a capitulation to evil. It is a means of conquering it.

A paradox is defined as "a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well-founded or true.” The wise individual who states “If I know one thing, it’s that I know nothing,” is using a paradox. Paradoxes can be thought-provoking ways of stating profound truths, and so it is no surprise that we find them in Scripture. On each of the remaining Sundays of Epiphany, we will ponder a powerful paradox. May God use these apparent contradictions to help us more firmly grasp his goodness and grace.

It does not surprise us that from the beginning of his ministry Jesus demonstrated his commitment to proclaiming good news of the kingdom of God, regardless of whether people rejected his message or embraced it. That was Christ's agenda, and he was committed to it. What is surprising is that, also from the beginning, Jesus demonstrated his plan to carry out this proclamation by sending others to speak on his behalf. More surprising is whom he sends, not angels, but mere human beings. In many cases, it was individuals who seemed to lack the qualifications to speak on Christ's behalf. Yet, Christ equipped and prepared them. Do you feel unqualified to tell others the good news? Then be assured, Jesus plans to use you exactly for that purpose.

When one proclaims God's Word, typically the intentions are good. We want others to know the joy of salvation and the love of Christ. Therefore, it can be surprising to us when God's Word is met with apathy or rejection by those who hear it. It's easy to conclude that when the Word of God offends human minds and hearts (including our own), something has gone wrong. The truth that is uncovered this week is that rejection of Jesus' words is not the exception but the rule. Jesus' words will always offend. However, we will see that God can use even the rejection of his Word for good.

Are the pursuit of God and the pursuit of pleasure two separate paths? Many make that assumption—that life with Jesus is a boring, sterile experience. They are dead wrong. Jesus came to undo everything that is wrong with our world as a result of sin's curse. He also came to multiply our joy and deliver delight beyond our wildest dreams. Note that when Jesus begins to reveal his glory, it isn't by going to a hospital to cure every ailment. Instead, he starts at a local wedding, one of the greatest sources of joy in this life. The truth uncovered for us this week is that life with Jesus is not a life with less delight, but infinitely more.