incarnated christ
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
I must avoid all classes of theology except the one Jesus espoused – incarnational theology. Jesus did not write a textbook on theology; He lived it. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” —John 1:14. But I noticed one thing about Christ’s incarnation: it was unto death. Likewise, my commitment to Christ must be unto death, otherwise it is an insincere commitment.
The sufferings of Jesus were the manifestation of His love for us. And since He suffered infinitely, His love is infinite. So God does not measure my life by activity, but by suffering, for it is in suffering that my love to Him is shown. I think the formula goes something like this: I cannot suffer for Him unless I love; I cannot show love for Him unless I feel; and I cannot feel (properly, that is) unless Christ is implanted and growing in me. When Christ comes to live in me, He brings with Him that which is natural to God – sympathy, grace, kindness, charity, love, and mercy. No one is fully possessed by Christ can avoid showing these qualities any more than a rose can avoid showing color.
God measures my life by whether or not I lay down my life for the brothers (I John 3:16). But this involves a prior decision: Shall I live or shall I die? This was precisely the decision Jesus answered long before He became a man. The moment He assumed human flesh the die was cast; there was no turning back. So when Christ becomes incarnational in me, I am naturally propelled in the direction of a laid-down life. I become servant-like in ministry and I stoop to wash the dusty feet of others. I cannot call Him master and be otherwise. But what a joy to know that as He is, so also are we in this world” —I John 4:17.
“This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress , and to keep oneself unstained by the world” —James 1:27.
(From the book, Daily with The King – W. Glyn Evans)
Steve Khongsngi