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Elevating Christ

One would think that those who claim Christ would honor him. However, in many ways we Christians live as if Christ is incidental to our lives. Most frequently we take him for granted even so far as forgetting he is an actual person who in paying for all of our sin has done us the greatest good possible. Taking generosity for granted in a common human failing. However, more than generosity, Christ demonstrates the selfless love to which we should all aspire.

Many religious people think of their lives as blessed by God to such an extent that everything that happens to them is a result of God’s intervention. This can lead to an elevated sense of one’s own worth. Also, it can be done at the diminishment of Christ. It can help to remember that Christians are placed into the body of Christ. It is the love of the Father for Jesus that touches us, not our own importance.

Moses warned the nation of Israel that once they entered the promised land, they were in danger of forgetting God and thinking that everything they had received was gotten by their own hand (Deut 6:12). This is similar to a Christian who because of the business of daily life sees the world as if he were not a Christian Those of Israel were called to faithfulness to the Lord and to keep his laws. Christians are also called to faithfulness to the Lord, but being saved by grace without the law, we have perhaps a more difficult task.

For many Christians Christ can seem almost an abstraction, something to do with heaven and disconnected from the daily grind of making a living and family responsibilities. It can help to have daily bible reading, but often this can seem like an expendable chore. Perhaps a technique to create a disconnect from the influence of the world is to develop a judgmental reflex so that the idiocy of the world and those lost in their fleshly indulgences is recognized. There is a danger in that such recognition can lead to self-righteousness. This is why it is important to elevate Christ. If the idiocy of the world can be seen as something we would all be involved with if it were not for Jesus having saved us, we can keep the humility and reverence for Christ that is essential to walking in truth.

Humility is essential for gratitude. Truth is essential for humility. If we can come to truly recognize that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), we can begin to give him his proper place in our life. It can be helpful to cultivate a daily prayer life and with it to reflect on what Christ has done for us as well as what awaits us. It is our intentional actions to consider and recognize Christ that begin to help us grow in faith, knowledge, and understanding.

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. - Ephesians 3:16-21

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