“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors, He has fulfilled for us, by raising up Jesus.” Acts 13:32-33
John Wesley, Anglican clergyman, evangelist, and founder of Methodism, once wrote, “I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field.”
These endearing words of Wesley beckon every follower of Jesus away from mediocrity and into a deeper and more passionate pursuit of all things related to faith in Christ. I find these words refreshing in a day when many people settle for bear minimum concerning the disciplines of Christian faith. The danger of settling becomes a stagnant soul indifferent to the Savior’s promptings. Therefore, don’t settle! Seek all that God has designed for your life.
How can we make certain we avoid settling in our faith?
We must desire all of Jesus. Now, one may ask, “who would settle for anything less?” But it does happen. Consider some real-life examples. Constantly wrestling with guilt over past sins can cause us to lose focus of the fact that Jesus as our perfect Savior has forgiven all sin. Constantly justifying personal sin can reflect one who has lost sight of the fact that Jesus is not only Savior, but also Lord and King who rules and reigns in our lives. Continually harboring grudges over past offenses can reflect one who has lost focus on the fact that Jesus forgave us, and we are empowered to forgive others. On and on the examples continue of occasions that tempt many to negotiate away some aspect of who Jesus is in our lives.
When we are challenged in this way, we need to desperately be reminded of who Jesus truly is to us. Once in a Jewish synagogue (Antioch to be exact), the Apostle Paul encouraged the proper view of Jesus to an audience that was religious in origin and orientation (Judaism) but had not embraced the Son of God. From Acts 13, Paul’s synagogue sermon refocuses us on the beautiful and simple foundational truths of Jesus.
First, Paul proclaimed that “God brought to Israel a personal Savior.” (Acts 13:23) To have all of the Christ as our Savior is to see Him as the fulfillment of everything God promised. You can entertain all the history of Christ, and the prophecies fulfilled. But man’s desperate need is for a savior, and Jesus is the One and only Savior for the world, and for you.
Second, Paul reminded his audience that the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, set the stage of the coming of Jesus through preaching repentance of sins (13:24). So, to see Christ in his fullness is to repent and turn from the things of this world, and to truly receive Jesus Christ by faith.
Third, Paul proclaimed that which John the Baptist said: “one is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (13:25) Paul reminded his Jewish audience of the deity of Christ. The fullness of Jesus became Paul’s message to a people who were religious enough to claim God, but too blind to see their need for the exalted Redeemer of the world.
If we are to avoid falling into complacency or mediocrity, we must desire all of Christ as our Savior. We must never lose sight of Jesus as Savior of our Soul.
In 1875, British poet William Ernest Henley published a short poem, Invictus, wherein he proclaimed: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” This poem encouraged the late Nelson Mandela throughout the dark days of his imprisonment. Clint Eastwood borrowed the poem’s title for his popular film about the South African Rugby team. But, the true picture of the Captain of souls was preached 16 years after Henley’s poem. Charles Haddon Spurgeon peached his last sermon on June 7, 1891. In this sermon, he proclaimed, “If you could see our Captain (the captain of our souls) – Jesus, you would go down on your knees and beg Him to let you enter the ranks of those who truly follow Him. It is heaven to serve Jesus.”
Today, desire all of Jesus as your Savior. And serve Him well.
BLESSINGS,
Ken
