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The Simplicity of Christ
Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do YOU think I am?” It was Peter who answered, “You are the Christ (Messiah, Anointed One), Son of the Living God!” Jesus then acknowledged that no human could have made this fact known unto Peter. While many realized that Jesus was at least one of God’s prophets, this ability to see beyond the surface of this humble human being was a gift from God. It was a divine revelation!
This was an important moment for Peter. He was beginning to understand heavenly things and this understanding would grow over time. This impetuous fisherman would eventually become an important ambassador for the Kingdom of God. His testimony inspires millions to this day. To Peter and many others, it was all about Jesus. Peter had been raised on the stories of his ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and others. Now this faith was personally His. He had an encounter with the One around whom all these stories were centered.
From the beginning, the people of God have tended to forget this truth. Life often became centered around rules and rituals that were designed to remind them of Him. They would often forget the reason for which He made them and called them unto Himself, so God would raise up individuals to remind them and call them back to genuine faith.
In a few generations this happened to the followers of Christ as well. As their numbers grew, the complexity of the Christian faith grew as well. The simplicity of gathering in His Name for fellowship, prayer and sharing His life together began to fade, and with it the glory of His manifest presence. This in turned weakened their influence in the outside world.
Forms and rituals began to take center place. Again, these forms and rituals were designed to remind them of Him (Luke 22:19), but without that personal revelation of the Living Christ, they became an end in themselves. He would not abandon His people. From time to time God would again raise up individuals that were filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit to challenge the status quo. It is these periods of what some call “revival” that have kept this faith alive over the centuries.
Sadly, some communities of believers today have become so cold that anyone so touched by the power and presence of God is viewed as a fanatic. They have become so comfortable in their predictable forms that any challenge to them is to be resisted. Does that sound familiar? Has anyone read the four Gospels and Acts lately? On the other side, some have become so experience oriented that they forget about their relationship with Jesus Himself, as they seek more for signs and wonders.
Paul saw the danger of these distractions. He knew that Satan would continue his distracting work. He called everyone back to the simplicity of Christ. He insisted that the greatest of all gifts and virtues is love. It must be the love that God has placed in our hearts for Him and one another that motivates everything we do. Yes, we need to learn from the bible and grow in the truth, but if we miss the point of the bible, Who is Jesus Christ, we miss eternal life as well. (2 Corinthians 11:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13, John 17:3).
Before the First Century was complete, Jesus called the formidable church at Ephesus back to her First Love. (Revelations 2:1-5) These people were working hard to stand against evil and to preserve the orthodox faith. Jesus commended them for this, and yet He had this complaint against them. Only repentance and a return to that first pure love would preserve their testimony on the earth.
Lord, set us all free from our own little kingdoms that we struggle to preserve. Help us to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness. Call us back to simple faith and devotion to You! Help us to genuinely love one another as You love us!
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