Several years ago I was introduced the works of Richard J. Foster . His best known book is likely The Celebration of Discipline that I had to read in seminary. The best way to describe Foster, from my point of view, is that he presses the Christian into simply living focused on God.
Tough reading. Challenging thoughts, but always something to chew on that leads me into a more intimate walk with God and desire for God.
Here is part of Foster's "Perspective" newsletter from October 2005 called Growing Edges. Be blessed as you read...
Jesus: The Word Made Flesh
But there is more. Not only is there the Word of God written (Scripture) and the Word of God living (the debar Yahweh) there is also the Word of God incarnate, Jesus Christ. This is of enormous importance for our day. People need a living Savior that speaks life into us here and now.
John, in his Gospel, makes a conscious parallel to the creation narrative of Genesis when he declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .and the Word became flesh and lived among us" ( Gen.1:1,14). Jesus is the eternal Logos, the Word of God incarnate. And just as in Genesis where God spoke the universe into existence, so in John's Gospel Jesus brings about his great "signs" by speaking. To the lame man Jesus says, "Stand up, take your mat and walk" . . . and so he does; Jesus calls out to Lazarus in the grave, "Lazarus, come out!". . . and so he does. God creates by speaking; Jesus creates by speaking.
On the Mount of Transfiguration God's voice came out of the cloud saying, "This is my Son, the Beloved . . . "listen to him!" (Matt. 17:5; bold added). The writer to the Hebrews tells us that in past days God spoke to his people through the prophets but now he is speaking through his Son (Heb. 1:1). And here is the great, good news: Jesus is alive, he is here to teach his people himself. Jesus functions among us as Prophet, Priest, and King: our Prophet to teach us, our Priest to redeem us, our King to rule us.
When Jesus was among us in the flesh he described himself as the Good Shepherd and that "his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (Jn. 10:4 niv). And in resurrected form Jesus declares that he is "standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me" (Rev. 3:20).
So, my friend, hearing Jesus' voice is not all that elusive or complicated. His grace comes right up to the doorstep of our souls. We are not here talking about a complicated exercise for the spiritually elite. No, it is more like just getting up and answering the door.
I usually don't include prayer request, but this is one of our church members that needs your prayers ... Pray for Nancy Buchanan from our church who was in a terrible car accident yesterday. She is undergoing surgery this afternoon to repair her hip. She is stable but needs to improve (at Baptist Hospital).
Tough reading. Challenging thoughts, but always something to chew on that leads me into a more intimate walk with God and desire for God.
Here is part of Foster's "Perspective" newsletter from October 2005 called Growing Edges. Be blessed as you read...
Jesus: The Word Made Flesh
But there is more. Not only is there the Word of God written (Scripture) and the Word of God living (the debar Yahweh) there is also the Word of God incarnate, Jesus Christ. This is of enormous importance for our day. People need a living Savior that speaks life into us here and now.
John, in his Gospel, makes a conscious parallel to the creation narrative of Genesis when he declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .and the Word became flesh and lived among us" ( Gen.1:1,14). Jesus is the eternal Logos, the Word of God incarnate. And just as in Genesis where God spoke the universe into existence, so in John's Gospel Jesus brings about his great "signs" by speaking. To the lame man Jesus says, "Stand up, take your mat and walk" . . . and so he does; Jesus calls out to Lazarus in the grave, "Lazarus, come out!". . . and so he does. God creates by speaking; Jesus creates by speaking.
On the Mount of Transfiguration God's voice came out of the cloud saying, "This is my Son, the Beloved . . . "listen to him!" (Matt. 17:5; bold added). The writer to the Hebrews tells us that in past days God spoke to his people through the prophets but now he is speaking through his Son (Heb. 1:1). And here is the great, good news: Jesus is alive, he is here to teach his people himself. Jesus functions among us as Prophet, Priest, and King: our Prophet to teach us, our Priest to redeem us, our King to rule us.
When Jesus was among us in the flesh he described himself as the Good Shepherd and that "his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (Jn. 10:4 niv). And in resurrected form Jesus declares that he is "standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me" (Rev. 3:20).
So, my friend, hearing Jesus' voice is not all that elusive or complicated. His grace comes right up to the doorstep of our souls. We are not here talking about a complicated exercise for the spiritually elite. No, it is more like just getting up and answering the door.
I usually don't include prayer request, but this is one of our church members that needs your prayers ... Pray for Nancy Buchanan from our church who was in a terrible car accident yesterday. She is undergoing surgery this afternoon to repair her hip. She is stable but needs to improve (at Baptist Hospital).
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