Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday December 8, 2010

While talking with a friend, well actually the same friend I mentioned a few weeks ago as I don't have all that many friends, I mentioned one of my favorite "Christmas" passages and said I thought it might be the best from the human perspective.

The mentioned passage gives much insight into the glory and the suffering of Christ, once it is coupled with the rest of the story. Note Isaiah 9:6:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Most who were contemporary with Isaiah would conclude one of the Mid-Eastern potentates was going to have a fantastic son who would outshine his father in achievements. With the benefit of the New Testament we now know the verse speaks of Christ, but we usually miss some of the more practical points.

We know the "child" left ivory palaces and entered the world via the virgin, born in a barn, dressed in rags, his mother seems to have been widowed early on, as he reached manhood he said that birds and foxes had more material possessions. He had no permanent place to lay his head. He was looked down upon by the establishment, both secular and religious. He died among criminals. The resume goes on.

I am convinced He is the savior as the Bible says and as such is in the least of the responsibilities of Messiah the Grand Exemplar. When I apply His sufferings at the practical level I find that I have no excuses. No right to whine about my current straights, low birth, humble beginnings, parental plight, people do not like me, no influence, etc.

The Epistle to Hebrews gives clarity to my feeble attempts to communicate understanding of the power of Christ's example. Hebrews 4:15:

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Immediately someone says, "Sure, but He is God in flesh." True, but doesn't the Bible clearly teach the Christian's power is the truth of "Christ in you the hope of glory?"

If Christ is in us we must persist in light of the gift of adversity.

"Adversity toughens manhood, and the characteristic of the good or the great man, is not that he has been exempted from the evils of life, but that he has surmounted them." Patrick Henry (Thanks for this quote Dr. Phil Stringer).

Here's to the overcomers.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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