Little Ida’s Flowers

-
Image
  “MY poor flowers are quite dead!” said little Ida. “They were so pretty yesterday, and now all the leaves hang withered. Why do they do that? . . . Why do the flowers look so faded to-day?” she asked again, and showed him a nosegay, which was quite withered.  “Do you know what’s the matter with them?” said the Student. “The flowers have been at a ball last night, and that’s why they hang their heads.”  “But flowers cannot dance!” cried little Ida. “O yes,” said the Student, “when it grows dark, and we are asleep, they jump about merrily. Almost every night they have a ball.” —Hans Christian Andersen. (1805–1875)

"How did his father raise him up from the dead? Does Jesus have power?"

-
A North Carolinian asked, “how did his father raise him up from the dead? Does Jesus have power?”

I think I can answer both questions by looking at WHO Jesus is; that is, Jesus is plainly and clearly identified as being God. Consider a few things that are said of God in the Old Testament and what is also said of Jesus in the New Testament:

He is the Creator (Psalm 102:24-27 and Hebrews 1:10-12);
He was seen by Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-4 and John 12:41);
He was preceded by a forerunner (Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3);
He disciplines His people (Numbers 21:6ff and 1 Corinthians 10:9);
He is Holy (Isaiah 8:13 and 1 Peter 3:15);
He leads the captives (Psalm 68:18 and Ephesians 4:8);
He is the object of faith (Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:9 and 13).

This is my favorite passage:
Look at Revelation 1:8—who is speaking?
Now look at Revelation 22:13—who is speaking, and what does He call Himself?
Finally, turn back to Revelation 1:17—who is speaking?
Now look at the next verse, Revelation 1:18—the same person is speaking, right? How does He identify Himself? When did God ever die?

“But,” you may ask, “if Jesus is God, why does it say in Romans 10:9 that ‘God raised Him from the dead?’” Think of it this way—I am one person; but, I am a husband, a father and a son—three different persons yet one person. There are some things I cannot do as a son, but I can do them only as a father. There are some things I cannot do as a father that I can do only as a husband. There are some things I cannot do as a husband, but I can do them as a son. Following me?

Remember that God is three persons in one. God could only accomplish salvation for man by becoming flesh and blood in the person of Jesus, but Jesus could only be raised from the dead in the power of the Holy Spirit by God—and that’s more power than we can imagine!

Popular posts from this blog

Rock Me, Epictetus!

-
Image
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8 
Read more

The Smooth-flowing Life

-
Image
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
Read more