Jesus, more than Helper
Often I can get into a headspace where Jesus is like a magic ingredient. If I add in a dash of Jesus to a mixture of willpower and strong coffee I will create the perfect recipe to do great at a task, resist gossip, be more selfless.
It's easy to look at our lives and add Jesus into the mix in order to gain something. We want to face our Goliath's---our anxiety, our spending problem, our weight, our relational dilemma---and, with a jumbled up mantra of "I can do all things through Christ" and "I am woman hear me roar," overcome sin, personality quirks, be healthier, happier.
Jesus sits in our mind as Helper. He is necessary for our accomplishments, sure, but that's about all we begin to associate him with.
Jesus our Helper is not a bad title. In fact, it's not an incorrect title for him. But is it the only title?
Sanctification, the continual process during our lives here on earths as believers to become more like Jesus in thoughts, words, and deeds, is necessary because of what? Our sin. Praise be to God he is faithful to finish the good work he started. That he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is helping us take off the old ways of doing things (our sin patterns) and put on his way of doing things. Those things are good, right, and helpful for us.
Ultimately, though, we need something else. Because sin is what puts us in need of a Helper. And sin is what separates us from God. Whether our sins are being worked on, overcome, or are a thing of the past they keep us from friendship with our God.
This is where Jesus is not helper alone. I am utterly humbled and astounded that he is not helper alone. He is also Savior. He mediated on our behalf because no matter how he can help us with our problems in the end he came to save us from our problems and the divide it created.
Jesus is so much more than Helper, he is Savior. Ultimately, this is who we need Jesus to be if we want relationship with our God. He completely saved us from our sin, picked us up out of the pit and brought us to greener pastures. This was not done by our will power, by our determination, by our persuading. This was done by our Savior who saved us completely on his own because of his great love for us.
Jesus is Savior. Let us never forget this.
It's easy to look at our lives and add Jesus into the mix in order to gain something. We want to face our Goliath's---our anxiety, our spending problem, our weight, our relational dilemma---and, with a jumbled up mantra of "I can do all things through Christ" and "I am woman hear me roar," overcome sin, personality quirks, be healthier, happier.
Jesus sits in our mind as Helper. He is necessary for our accomplishments, sure, but that's about all we begin to associate him with.
Jesus our Helper is not a bad title. In fact, it's not an incorrect title for him. But is it the only title?
Sanctification, the continual process during our lives here on earths as believers to become more like Jesus in thoughts, words, and deeds, is necessary because of what? Our sin. Praise be to God he is faithful to finish the good work he started. That he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is helping us take off the old ways of doing things (our sin patterns) and put on his way of doing things. Those things are good, right, and helpful for us.
Ultimately, though, we need something else. Because sin is what puts us in need of a Helper. And sin is what separates us from God. Whether our sins are being worked on, overcome, or are a thing of the past they keep us from friendship with our God.
This is where Jesus is not helper alone. I am utterly humbled and astounded that he is not helper alone. He is also Savior. He mediated on our behalf because no matter how he can help us with our problems in the end he came to save us from our problems and the divide it created.
Jesus is so much more than Helper, he is Savior. Ultimately, this is who we need Jesus to be if we want relationship with our God. He completely saved us from our sin, picked us up out of the pit and brought us to greener pastures. This was not done by our will power, by our determination, by our persuading. This was done by our Savior who saved us completely on his own because of his great love for us.
Jesus is Savior. Let us never forget this.
