Since the beginning of time, people have wondered what God is like; that was until the first century when Jesus made his dwelling among us. The interesting thing is that Jesus did not claim to have come to earth to explain God to us; he claimed to be in flesh and blood the explanation of what God is like. One day some people who doubted Jesus asked him; show us the Father so that we can believe. Jesus answered; if you’ve seen me you have seen the Father. Jesus did not dwell among us to explain God, but rather to demonstrate what God is like. 

Before Jesus, the world had a completely different view of God. For example, in the first-century slavery was assumed, that’s why the Roman Empire had more slaves than they had citizens. In the first century, people had economic value but if at any time a nation was militarily defeated by another nation, more than likely those people would end up becoming slaves to that nation. The belief was that God primarily favored wealthy men but if you were a slave, poor, or sick that was a sign that God was against you. If you were in power that meant that God was with you. Then Jesus came along and assigned great value and dignity to everyone in spite of their social, economic, or physical condition. He showed that voluntarily serving others was not a sign of weakness and that humility was not an attitude that we should avoid but rather embrace. 

On one occasion Jesus elevated a Samaritan man over a Jewish priest, and in doing so he redefined what constitutes a neighbor. Keep in mind that Samaritans were half-breeds who were hated by the Jews. Yet he elevated the Samaritan man not based on his nationality, which is something no person has control over. He elevated him based on the compassion he showed to a stranger that had been ignored by everyone else including a priest. 

The Apostle John who in his teens began following Jesus, now an old man, looks back to the time he had spent with him and writes: 

 

BIBLICAL READING:

No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. – John 1:18 NIV

 

THINK ABOUT IT:

The Apostle Paul who initially persecuted and approved the death sentence of the first martyr of the Christian church, after encountering Jesus wrote: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant …” 

 

PRAY:

Dear Heavenly Father, I have position, power, and possessions and all of this I consider a blessing from you, thank you. I know however, that it is of no eternal value for me to consume all that I have on myself, on things that will eventually pass away. I know that the things that you value are eternal in nature. Please work in me and in my heart so that I can have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. Help me to not use what I have for personal gain but rather to serve my neighbor. What an awesome example of humility and service we have in Jesus, help me to become more like him every day and to value those things that you value. Here I am Lord, use me for your glory and for your honor. I pray that you bless the works of my hand and that those works would directly impact the kingdom of heaven. Father I give you all the glory and honor and ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.