Dear Friends,
The founder of the Moravians (Nicholas von Zinzendorf) was converted in a museum in Dusseldorf, Germany, while staring at a painting of Jesus in his sufferings. At the bottom of the painting the artist had written in Latin, "Ego pro te haec passus sum, Tu vero quid fecisti pro me." (This I have suffered for thee; Now what will you do for me?)
It is hard to consider what Christ suffered, realize why He suffered it, and not be led to ask ourselves that same thing, regardless of the age in which we live. I myself wrestled with that question in my teens and early 20’s. I have asked other people that question ever since. Zinzendorf contemplated that question in 1719 (when he was 19). Domenica Feti (the painter who added that tag line to his painting) did so around 1610. And in my selection for today, entitled, “Responding to What Christ Has Done For us,” Gregory of Nyssa asked it of his congregation in his day – around 375 A.D. Enjoy.
“To Him who suffered and rose for us, let us offer – what? Maybe you will think I’m going to say we should offer Him gold, silver costly tapestries, or crystal-clear precious stones. But such things are the earth’s mere vanishing stuff, forever limited to the world, and generally owned by bad people – the world’s slaves and bondsmen of this world’s prince.
No! Let us offer Him our very selves – that which is most valuable to God, and most fitting as an offering. Let us give back to the Divine One that which is made in His image. Let us acknowledge the dignity of our own creation and honor Him who is our Maker. Let us experience the power of the Mystery of His salvation, and the purpose of His death. Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. Let us become divine people for Him (II Peter 1:4) who became human for us.
He took upon Himself the worst, to bestow upon us the best. He became poor, that we through His poverty, might become rich. He took upon Himself the form of a slave, to give us back our freedom. He came down to lift us high. He was tempted that we might gain victory. He was shamed to bring us glory. He embraced death, that He might give us salvation. He ascended heavenward that He might draw to Himself those who were lying prostrate, fallen through sin.
Let us give all, let us offer all, to Him who gave Himself as the price of our redemption and reconciliation. For we can give Him nothing as precious as ourselves.”
Preachers, missionaries, evangelists, and earnest believers from every age have stated the same truth. For when people are told about Jesus, and the extent to which He suffered for us, that question begs to be pondered and answered: Since Christ gave His all for you, what shall you in return give to Him? He doesn’t want your things, He wants you. Shall He have you?
His, Pastor Jeff
The founder of the Moravians (Nicholas von Zinzendorf) was converted in a museum in Dusseldorf, Germany, while staring at a painting of Jesus in his sufferings. At the bottom of the painting the artist had written in Latin, "Ego pro te haec passus sum, Tu vero quid fecisti pro me." (This I have suffered for thee; Now what will you do for me?)
It is hard to consider what Christ suffered, realize why He suffered it, and not be led to ask ourselves that same thing, regardless of the age in which we live. I myself wrestled with that question in my teens and early 20’s. I have asked other people that question ever since. Zinzendorf contemplated that question in 1719 (when he was 19). Domenica Feti (the painter who added that tag line to his painting) did so around 1610. And in my selection for today, entitled, “Responding to What Christ Has Done For us,” Gregory of Nyssa asked it of his congregation in his day – around 375 A.D. Enjoy.
“To Him who suffered and rose for us, let us offer – what? Maybe you will think I’m going to say we should offer Him gold, silver costly tapestries, or crystal-clear precious stones. But such things are the earth’s mere vanishing stuff, forever limited to the world, and generally owned by bad people – the world’s slaves and bondsmen of this world’s prince.
No! Let us offer Him our very selves – that which is most valuable to God, and most fitting as an offering. Let us give back to the Divine One that which is made in His image. Let us acknowledge the dignity of our own creation and honor Him who is our Maker. Let us experience the power of the Mystery of His salvation, and the purpose of His death. Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. Let us become divine people for Him (II Peter 1:4) who became human for us.
He took upon Himself the worst, to bestow upon us the best. He became poor, that we through His poverty, might become rich. He took upon Himself the form of a slave, to give us back our freedom. He came down to lift us high. He was tempted that we might gain victory. He was shamed to bring us glory. He embraced death, that He might give us salvation. He ascended heavenward that He might draw to Himself those who were lying prostrate, fallen through sin.
Let us give all, let us offer all, to Him who gave Himself as the price of our redemption and reconciliation. For we can give Him nothing as precious as ourselves.”
Preachers, missionaries, evangelists, and earnest believers from every age have stated the same truth. For when people are told about Jesus, and the extent to which He suffered for us, that question begs to be pondered and answered: Since Christ gave His all for you, what shall you in return give to Him? He doesn’t want your things, He wants you. Shall He have you?
His, Pastor Jeff
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