In my last post, I considered some contrasts between Nimrod and the Lord Jesus. The root distinction was between two perspectives in life, the first (Nimrod) put self at the centre of his world, the second (Christ) put God, and others, at the centre of His world.
The contrast can be seen clearly between what Nimrod valued, and what the Lord instructed His disciples to pray for in His well known guidance for prayer in Matt 6.9-13.
To Nimrod, his own reputation and renown was all important. His name was to be revered and respected. He became famous and his desire was mirrored by those who built Babel "let us make us a name" (Gen 11.4). However, the Lord instructed His disciples to pray to the Father, "Hallowed be THY Name" (Matt 6.9).
Also, in the case of Nimrod, we are introduced to his kingdom. "And the beginning of His kingdom was Babel ..." (Gen 10.10). The picture is painted of a proud and successful king, having an extensive realm over which he had authority. However, the Lord instructed His disciples to pray "THY Kingdom come" (Matt 6.10).
Nimrod was a rebel at heart, his very name stressing the importance he placed on his own will. His will was followed in defiance of the will of God (see Gen 11.1-9). However, the Lord instructed His disciples to pray "THY will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6.10)
Finally, Nimrod was self-sufficient and independent, a "mighty hunter". However, the Lord instructed His disciples to maintain a dependent spirit "Give us this day our daily bread ..." (Matt 6.11).
How different we are expected to be! It is a good idea from time to time to ask ourselves the following questions:
1. Is my life lived for God's glory or my own?
2. Do I seek first God's Kingdom, or my own?
3. Do I follow God's will, or my own?
4. Am I trusting God, or am I trusting myself? Am I dependent or independent?
Nimrod's hearts desire could be summarised: "MINE is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever"! For us, as disciples of the Lord Jesus it should be very different! May our lives be witnesses to the fact that our prayer, our hearts desire, is "THINE is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen" (Matt 6.13).
Showing posts with label Reputation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reputation. Show all posts
Friday, 27 June 2014
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Christ in Noah (3)
Closely linked with the Righteousness of Noah, which we considered in our previous post, was his Reputation. Let us examine this briefly:
Noah and Reputation
Noah was "perfect in his generations" (Gen 6.9), and the meaning of this is likely that he was blameless among his contemporaries.
No-one could point the finger at Noah. He was no hypocrite. He was a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2.5), and, as we have seen, before he ever preached righteousness he practiced it! His life matched his lip; his walk and his words were in perfect harmony.
In this again we see the sinless Saviour. Luke, who wrote both the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles, draws our attention to "all that Jesus began both to do and to teach" (Acts 1.1). If there had been the hairs-breadth of a difference between His morals and His message, His enemies would have found it and exploited it to the full, but while they tried hard, they could not. It was in the certain consciousness of this that the Lord challenged His opponents "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" (John 8.46), and it was because of this "they sought false witness against Him" (Matt 26.59).
The life of Christ was lived out in the open, under the gaze of men, and there was none who could throw mud that would stick. The scrutiny was intense and unsympathetic. If the scribes or Pharisees caught the wiff of a possibility of double standards, they were onto it like a bloodhound (ignoring their own hypocrisy), but they could find nothing of the sort in Him. Pilate, that shrewd, calculating, experienced judge of men must acknowledge that "I, having examined Him ... have found no fault in this man ...". No skeleton hidden in any dark corner or cupboard could be found, nor will it ever be, for as Peter notes "He did no sin" (1 Peter 2.22).
Noah and Reputation
Noah was "perfect in his generations" (Gen 6.9), and the meaning of this is likely that he was blameless among his contemporaries.
No-one could point the finger at Noah. He was no hypocrite. He was a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2.5), and, as we have seen, before he ever preached righteousness he practiced it! His life matched his lip; his walk and his words were in perfect harmony.
In this again we see the sinless Saviour. Luke, who wrote both the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles, draws our attention to "all that Jesus began both to do and to teach" (Acts 1.1). If there had been the hairs-breadth of a difference between His morals and His message, His enemies would have found it and exploited it to the full, but while they tried hard, they could not. It was in the certain consciousness of this that the Lord challenged His opponents "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" (John 8.46), and it was because of this "they sought false witness against Him" (Matt 26.59).
The life of Christ was lived out in the open, under the gaze of men, and there was none who could throw mud that would stick. The scrutiny was intense and unsympathetic. If the scribes or Pharisees caught the wiff of a possibility of double standards, they were onto it like a bloodhound (ignoring their own hypocrisy), but they could find nothing of the sort in Him. Pilate, that shrewd, calculating, experienced judge of men must acknowledge that "I, having examined Him ... have found no fault in this man ...". No skeleton hidden in any dark corner or cupboard could be found, nor will it ever be, for as Peter notes "He did no sin" (1 Peter 2.22).
Sadly, down through the centuries the cause of Christ has been hindered by the hypocrisy of Christians. It was Mahatma Ghandi who said "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ". Now, while Ghandi was far from an authority on the person of the Lord Jesus, and His understanding of Christ was fundamentally flawed, we can still apply the spirit of his criticism. Sadly as Christians we often are not as Christ-like as we should be. May the Lord help us to ensure that our lives have the same transparency and honesty as His did.
Some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won, something for Thee"
(Saviour Thy Dying Love. Sylvanus D Phelps)
"Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee.
That each departing day henceforth may seeSome work of love begun, some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won, something for Thee"
(Saviour Thy Dying Love. Sylvanus D Phelps)
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