October 26 More Than a Prophet

Luke 7:16-17 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
 
WHEN Jesus raised the young man from the dead (See Luke 7:14-15.), the witnesses excitedly proclaimed, “A great prophet has appeared among us.”  What else could they say in the moment of this wondrous life-giving miracle? Before their eyes, they saw Almighty God’s creative power! In their knowledge of Israel’s history, they would know God had sent prophets such as Elijah and Elisha to reveal himself through miraculous resurrections. In a moment, the people’s minds were transformed from a focus on death to believe that “God (had) come to help his people.”
   This is a remarkable confession. Most Pharisees did not believe God had come. Many in Israel’s long history had also refused to believe the prophets were God’s agents to care for his people. The people that day came very close to understanding Jesus’ full identity of Immanuel, God come in the flesh. Yet, they still needed to fully see God. They would need to know in their hearts and minds that Jesus was more than a prophet.
   Fully believing in and knowing God is the challenge of a sinful heart, isn’t it? We look at Adam and Eve’s response to God’s commands. How could they disobey the One who had created them and the beautiful garden around them? We see Israel throughout their history repeatedly denounce the Living God as they worshiped dead idols. We watch the Pharisees deny the Living Christ, who stood before them. And we look at our nation that sings, “God bless America.” and then approve abominable “laws” of death and sexual immorality. How could we disobey our God, who has so abundantly given to us? Even though “God has come to help his people.”  we rebel and say, “I’ll help myself.”   
   How do we overcome this incomplete, limiting relationship with God? How do we truly receive God’s help in the many ways we need him each day?
   I believe the best answer is, “Get to know God as well as you can. Be deliberate to seek him and his ways through the Holy Bible and true teachings. Understand who he is. Learn who you are in God’s sight.” Paul said it this way in Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  
   When you pursue God with a strong mind and grateful heart, you will more fully know God. You will understand how precious you are to your heavenly Father, even as you are weak in your understanding. Discovering God, you uncover his amazing grace, complete love, and unending joy he freely offers to you.
   Knowing God, you will know Jesus is more than a prophet. He is Savior, God incarnate, who has come to reveal the mysteries of a “God who has come to help his people.”
 
Prayer: Lord God, I pray I know you with all my heart, mind and soul. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.