[A Monday / Wednesday /
Friday Devotional Feature of the First Road Blog]
We
have a skewed imagery of what perfection looks like. We are only able to imagine someone who thinks he’s perfect; and the person who thinks he’s perfect is self-deceived and
annoying. However, throughout Jesus’ ministry there
is no record of his acting holier-than-everyone-else, even though he was
exactly that. Reactions
were to his claim, not to his character.
Therefore,
as a wrap on this series about Jesus’ development into a twelve-year-old conversationalist
who could hold his own with the religious leaders of his day, let me say a
little more about his kid
brother – James - the Spirit directed author of a letter in the New Testament.
In
the middle of his letter, James pulls together all he has said and has yet to
say. There he speaks of the character of wisdom that is from above – a
phrase which easily relates to Jesus. He describes this wisdom in terms of a
person who will not defile you, and who will not instigate unnecessary conflict.
He has a good bedside manner, is approachable, and will not flaunt your
failures. He is one whose conduct will be an attractive alternative to the belligerence
of the self-seeking crowd. He will not separate people by artificial distinctions
(wealth, ethnicity, etc.), and he will not say one thing to your face and
something else behind your back.
James
would have seen this character in him as a Junior High kid as well as an itinerant
Rabbi. Character descriptions in James’ letter can be transferred to Jesus at
any age. He who intrigued the religious leaders long ago ought to intrigue us
today.
Search
the Scriptures. Don’t pick and choose. Let them give you the whole picture of
this One who warns us of our danger, and promises forgiveness, life, and destiny
to sinners who will come to him in faith – sinners
in need of someone to stand between us and our just condemnation.
Thanks for this! In the words of Fanny Crosby... "More Like Jesus Would I Be." Our daily goal as believers.
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