- To know Jesus as my Provider, there must be a need.
- To know Jesus as my Sustainer, there must be an extended difficulty.
- To know Jesus as my Comforter, there must be hurt.
- To know Jesus as my Healer, there must be infirmity.
- To know Jesus as my Deliverer, there must be a form of bondage.
- To know Jesus as my Peace, there must be turmoil.
- To know Jesus as my Light, there must be darkness.
- To know Jesus as my Resurrection, there must be death.
Our friend Harry from Jerusalem shared these statements one recent Sunday. The thinking can continue into every area of life… even those that help me examine my response. For example, to know Jesus as my Friend, I need to be a friend. He tells us, “You are My friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:14)
To know Jesus as the Way, I must count the cost and follow Him. To know Jesus as the Truth, I must believe what He tells me. To know Jesus as the Life, I must surrender self and receive Him.
One of the reasons the Son gives so much honor to the Holy Spirit is that unless we are convicted of our sin, we may not even realize we need a Savior. To know Jesus as my Savior, I need to realize my hopelessness. When I understand that Jesus gave His life for a lost one who did not deserve it, I cannot help but love Him and praise Him and follow Him daily.
“I tell you the truth: unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:7-8
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8