Ben Shiller Jacob
Often, we call ourselves Christians yet lack the Christ in us. We know about Christ Jesus a lot better now than we had known Him before. We came a long way. However, when we closely look at ourselves and the journey behind us, it surely brings us a sense of shame and lack of confidence. The supernatural lifestyle that people of the Bible we read, listen every single day have no place in our journey whatsoever. It is miserable to miss out on the divine encounters and Heavenly provision which are basically reserved as our inheritance for all His saints. This issue springs forth from a heart that is not focused on the revelation of Christ Jesus when it is more focused in other various Christian religious doctrines and teachings.
Deeply Rooted in Christ
The question as a Christian, we should ask ourselves is where are we planted?
6And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.
7Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7
When we decided to follow Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior of our souls, we were over the clouds finding the Love of our lives. We were full of joy and excitement. We couldn’t hold our excitement until we could share His grace and love with someone else. After a while, we realized that love and joy once we had was being depleted as we went further. Before, we were encompassed with Jesus’s eternal peace and joy. Now, the eternal peace we were soaked with is now substituted with doubts, fear and all kinds of worldly anxieties.
‘What’s happening! This is not what I expected’
‘This shouldn’t be happening’
‘I thought God is in control’
We ask these questions to ourselves often when we face the unexpected.
We have challenges and persecution one way or another while we are in this world. We get overwhelmed and wavered often. When this happens, it is a sign that our focus has been shifted from Christ Jesus. It is not because our Lord has abandoned or left us, we shifted our attention from Him that magnifies our problems over Christ.
As soon as Peter shifted his focus from Jesus while he was walking over the sea, he got drowned.
More we fix our gaze upon Christ, more we soar above the storm.
Verse 6 says, just how we embraced Yeshua and His loving kindness, we must have the same excitement and enthusiasm to continually walk with Him. Neither intermittently nor partially but constantly!
The heart and the good pleasure of our Heavenly Father is that we must be planted and founded in His only begotten Son, Yeshua Messiah! That’s it!
Jesus said,
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus mentions here two kinds of people, one is wise who builds a house on solid rock and the other group is foolish who builds a house on sand. Jesus refers solid rock to Himself. Those who build their faith in Christ is wise because He is the unshakeable Rock.
The knowledge of Jesus Christ makes our foundation strong. Along with our daily walk, we must desire to know Him more. The more you know Him intimately, the stronger is the foundation of your faith.
To have knowledge of someone is not limited to theoretical knowledge rather, it is a personal relationship between the knower and the object known. This knowledge comprises of an active involvement of all the faculties of a person such as will, emotion and intellect. When I say I know Jesus, I am saying I know Him closely and intimately. I know how Jesus will act and respond in a situation because I have known His character being in various situations.
One time Jesus asked His disciples that who do they say that He is.
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are happy because you did not learn this from man. My Father in heaven has shown you this.
18 “And I tell you that you are Peter. On this rock I will build My church. The powers of hell will not be able to have power over My church.
Matthew 16:15-18
Jesus’ disciples have been walking with Him quite a bit by now. Afte all these days being with Him, Jesus wanted to know what His followers think of Him who really is. Surprisingly, Simon, son of Jonah answered His question with an astounding revelation, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’.
After hearing Simon’s reply, Jesus changed his name to Peter which means, rock and Jesus added in this rock m church will be built. Jesus is not referring Peter will be the foundation of His church rather, the revelation of who Jesus is.
When a person gets this revelation, Jesus being the Messiah or Christ which means the Anointed One Who is sent to redeem the whole creation from the grip of the kingdom of darkness, from the power of death and sin, the foundation of his faith is built in bedrock. No matter what may be the challenges and persecution in which he might go through, he will by no means waver because he is firmly rooted and anchored deeply in the revelation of knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Shiller’s Takeaway
Let’s examine ourselves how well we are built in Christ. If the foundation is rightly constructed, the better will be endurance of the house. Just like the foundation of a house is crucial, the foundation of our faith is utmost important for a lasting relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. An unending desire to know Him more should be our primary focus. Let us be more Christ centered.
Communion with a Contrite Heart
Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. We need to be rooted and planted in the revelation of who Christ Jesus is and in His might. We pray that You give us the spirit of revelation of knowledge of Your Son, Jesus so that we will stand firmly and not wobble when the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against us. Father, give us an unquenching desire to believe and know Christ Jesus in Jesus’ precious name we pray – AMEN!