A credible message

Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.

Scripture: John 10:31-33 (The Message) Again the Jews picked up rocks to throw at him. Jesus said, “I have made a present to you from the Father of the great many good actions. For which of these acts do you stone me?” The Jews said, “We’re not stoning you for anything good you did, but for what you said – blasphemy of calling yourself God.”

Abraham didn’t call himself God. Mohammad did not call himself God. Siddharta Gautama (the “Buddha”) did not call himself God. Joseph Smith believed he would become a god and that he was a prophet of God. Others, such as Nation of Islam founder Wallace D. Fard, were deified as God, but there was no credibility to their claims. Jesus’ life backed up his claims of being God. His life was without sin. He healed people of sicknesses, he brought people back from death, he rose from the dead, and his teachings are renowned in other religions.

Though his teachings are used in Islam, Mormonism, Hindu and other religions, those factions believed him only to be a wise man and prophet. Mormonism founder Joseph Smith claimed to be the equal of Jesus. What is the difference between other would-be gods and Jesus himself? Jesus’ claims had validity, and the others cannot hold up to any kind of academic study. Archaeology disclaims the foundation of Mormonism. The Quran, Islam’s holy scriptures, are filled with discrepancies, as are the Book of Mormon and other Mormon texts. Yet, the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life are remarkably accurate and consistent, as are other New Testament texts. Nearly a thousand people witnessed his life after death experience after dying on Calvary.

Jesus’ claims can hold up through scientific, archaeological and academic scrutiny. We can believe Jesus when he says he is the Son of God because there are nearly 50 Old Testament prophecies pointing to him being the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. The odds of him not being the Messiah of the Old Testament is astronomical, something like 1 in 17 trillion. Just write down 17 and zeroes for about 10 seconds, and you have it the odds. If you don’t believe it, study the Bible with an open heart and put Jesus to the test. He will pass – with flying colors.

Another words, he’s God. The question is, are you going to believe it, or are you going to be like the Jews and question his claim. After all, they wanted a messiah who would come and conquer Rome with a sword and set them free. Jesus came to set our hearts free instead. Unlike other holy scriptures, Jesus’ teachings give us peace and fulfillment in life, not shame and guilt. They teach us how to love the unlovable in horrific circumstances. He gave people the choice to follow him, and he doesn’t pull out his sword and kill anyone who doesn’t follow him. Jesus was all about love, and forcing someone to follow him is not love. We can bank on Jesus being God because he is credible. He lived the perfect life as a sacrifice for our poor, miserable lives and rose from the dead to prove it. He lives today.

How does this apply to my life?

Today’s prayer: Lord, thank you for being credible. You make believing easy. Amen

Doug Mead
Parenting Solo

Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Vol. 3, No. 168

This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/december.asp?version=51