"The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of our awesome God, reflecting God’s Shekinah glory--the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine--and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His Father’s essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things--the entire physical and spiritual universe--by His powerful word, carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal. When He Himself, and no other, had by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin accomplished purification from sins, and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down--revealing His completed work--at the right hand of the Majesty on high, revealing His Divine authority, having become as much superior to angels, since He has inherited a more excellent and glorious name than they [that is, 'Son'—the name above all names]." (Hebrews 1:3-4, Amplified)
Those may be two of the greatest run-on sentences ever. They help kick our moments of ho-hum, take-it-for-granted Christianity off their snooze rocker and reawaken the wonder and wow of our high calling as followers (not just admirers) of the Savior of the world. Bible scholar Thomas Schofield adds further fuel: "The key concept throughout the Book of Hebrews is superiority...Christ is better than [fill in the blank]...."
And if to that we can say "this, I believe," then perhaps it's time to make a t-shirt or bumper sticker or one of those reminder wrist bands that looks something like this:
hebrews 1:3-4
Because this symbol not only clearly says "greater than"--both who He is, and who we are in Him as we keep on walking this Walk (..."the One who lives within you is greater than the one in this world")--it also serves as an encouraging reminder to daily, perseveringly, and practically seek to live the "greater than" life as His beloved and chosen reflectors... imperfections and all. To remember that because He is greater than all, His grace is sufficient for every stumble, every task, every difficulty, and as the hymn-writer says, even more wonderful than that: "grace that is greater than all our sin."
And then, as we go, wherever we go, during our day, it can help remind ourselves that the "greater than" life should also look like, well, something rather oxymoronic: humble passion.
A lot of this...
And a whole lot more of this...
Lord, those two run-on sentences may make us want to shout. But don't let it stop there. If You who are greater than all came not to be served but to serve others, help us to turn our everyday thinking inside out, to remember to passionately live and reflect the You who is in us, even in the littlest of things. Who knows what You might do? ...
And then, as we go, wherever we go, during our day, it can help remind ourselves that the "greater than" life should also look like, well, something rather oxymoronic: humble passion.
A lot of this...
"Grow in the loving-favor that Christ gives you. Learn to know our Lord Jesus Christ better. He is the One Who saves. May He have all the shining-greatness now and forever. Let it be so."
And a whole lot more of this...
"Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first. In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts."
Lord, those two run-on sentences may make us want to shout. But don't let it stop there. If You who are greater than all came not to be served but to serve others, help us to turn our everyday thinking inside out, to remember to passionately live and reflect the You who is in us, even in the littlest of things. Who knows what You might do? ...
"The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His." (Francis Chan)
