A Thousand Ways to Jesus

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10 KJV

I have been lingering over the Christmas story for a week or so now. I cherish the time between Christmas and New Years because its rhythm gives me some needed time to read and reflect. This year I have come to freshly appreciate an important truth about the gospel. The good news is simultaneously narrow and wide. The Christmas story reminds us of this because all the seekers were looking for “the Lord.” You also get the point that he was intended for “all people.” Jesus was particular. He was born in a specific time and place and there was only one of him. There is a “the” connected to him and believers have affirmed this stubbornly. This is one for chief beefs people have with our message. In addition to the “the” Jesus is closely associated with “all.” His birth became the concern of poor Jews and rich pagans alike. He was one for many. The Christmas story is clear on this.

This principle was further affirmed for me as I read Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson’s, The Externally Focused Church. We are going to use some of their recourses later in the year and I appreciate their work. Here is a quote from the book, “There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus. But there are a thousand ways to Jesus.” We need to be stubborn and preach the onlyness of Jesus and we must be equally committed to offering his healing deeds and saving words to all. God is at work through FBC Meridian. He’s expanding our vision. We must walk through the doors of service opened to us and recognize that people come to Christ in a thousand different ways. As 2010 begins we need to ask ourselves:

What is God doing?
How can I join him?
What does God want to do?
How do we get started?

"Hey guys it's our time!"