WOYWW: Expecting the Messiah

 I am starting another canvas

in preparation for next year's Art in the Park.
Art in the Park is an annual Art Fair and it's the only place
where I really sell my paintings. 
On the right is a tub of mixed nuts.
I get hungry while I'm painting, ha ha!!!

"Are you the Messiah we've been expecting..." Luke 7:20

Didn't John the Baptist know who Jesus Christ was? Why did he send two of his disciples to Jesus to ask, 'Are you "He who is to come" or do we look for someone else?' Like John, many of us have questions from time to time. Being a a committed Christian is not always a straight road. In the 1st chapter of Luke, verse 41, John leaped for joy in his mother Elizabeth's womb, when Mary came to visit, in recognition of who the baby in Mary's womb was. You would think that he of all people would be sure of who the Messiah was. After all, he was called to prepare the way of the Lord. In Luke 1:80, we read that John grew up and became strong in spirit, and lived out in the wilderness until he began his public ministry.

 This tells me that it is all right to be on a constant exploration, to be constantly in search of God, to never give up. Even if we have doubts, even if we have questions. Even if we take a wrong turn. God is discoverable. After all, Jeremiah 29:13 promises, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." And in Matthew 7:7, Jesus himself says: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me...Your souls will find rest." Matthew 11:28-29

Usually what we remember about this well loved verse is that Jesus will refresh us, and our souls will find rest. We usually disregard what Jesus said about learning from Him which is a prerequisite to finding rest. Rest of course does not mean sleep or having time off. What Jesus promises is a season of refreshment, fulfillment, restoration. It is very clear that to be in this enviable state, we need to learn some life skills from Jesus. Humility, generosity, putting God and what He loves first, prayer, and first and foremost that Jesus is Master and Lord. How else can He become our teacher? 

When we observe people, we will see that when we need help, when we are burdened, very often we run to other people and other places, rather than come to Jesus who is waiting. We may even run to Church or religion. But going to Church is not the same as making Jesus our teacher, brother and friend. We need to read His Words, His teachings for ourselves. Lord, teach me to enter into Your rest!

"He guides the humble to justice, He teaches the humble his way." Psalm 25:9

I think most people are a complicated mixture of humility and pride. Sometimes we have this humility that makes us not step up because we think we can't do something, we are not capable, we don't have what it takes. We prefer to watch as other people "take the limelight". But I think being humble means that we know the truth about ourselves. C. S. Lewis in his remarkable book, "Mere Christianity", wrote, "True humility is not thinking less of yourself: it is thinking of yourself less."

I enjoy listening to the preacher, Francis Chan, because he tells funny stories about himself. He told of one of the first times he did a conference and John MacArthur, the famous author-preacher etc. was in the audience. While he was speaking, Francis kept looking at John MacArthur. When they were driving home, Francis Chan's wife asked him, "What was that all about? You weren't yourself!" And Francis Chan said, "John MacArthur was in the audience!" "Let me get this straight," his wife said," You were preaching about the presence of God, and you were worried about the presence of John MacArthur????" 

How many times do we refuse to use our gifts, the gifts God has given us, because we are afraid of what other PEOPLE will think? Humility is knowing that we are nothing without Christ. We can do nothing without God's presence and power. "Few of us are big enough to become little enough to be used of God," Vance Havner wrote. Lord, help me to become little enough so You can teach me Your ways, and You can accomplish what You want to accomplish through me!

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Blessings!

Patsy