Christianity Today Dec. 2012
01-30-13
An Anthropomorphical cartoon shows a Dog in the role of an author at a book reading/signing and commenting on his book, Dog Heaven Is For Real, with the emphasis that the dog/author does not recall what Jesus looked like, but does vividly remember the Sandwich Jesus was holding.
When I finished laughing, thinking, Dr. Boys will love this, I focused on the underlying truth of the cartoon. Dogs are biblically considered as Cretians (Lazy Gluttons) thus our canine is totally focused on food from the Master’s hand. Cute, true and so glaringly illustrative of today’s feeble Christianity. We pastors have become as vacuum cleaner salespeople who sell the benefits. Certainly knowing Christ has benefits galore. But what about our focus, our walk, concerning Jesus?
In attempts to describe Jesus, all of which are futile, we hear, “He cares,” “He hugs,” “He weeps,” “He has a big shovel, I have a spoon, so each time I give a spoonful, He gives a big scoop from His shovel.” On and on goes the truth, but the greater truth is not only missed, but never even remotely considered. What He does is not who He is.
Notice Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Paul’s word “know” is ginosko, basically to know experientially with understanding. This is beyond knowing about mere benefits.
Copyright © 2013 Larry Lilly
Please take the liberty to FWD this to your list, FB, etc
An Anthropomorphical cartoon shows a Dog in the role of an author at a book reading/signing and commenting on his book, Dog Heaven Is For Real, with the emphasis that the dog/author does not recall what Jesus looked like, but does vividly remember the Sandwich Jesus was holding.
When I finished laughing, thinking, Dr. Boys will love this, I focused on the underlying truth of the cartoon. Dogs are biblically considered as Cretians (Lazy Gluttons) thus our canine is totally focused on food from the Master’s hand. Cute, true and so glaringly illustrative of today’s feeble Christianity. We pastors have become as vacuum cleaner salespeople who sell the benefits. Certainly knowing Christ has benefits galore. But what about our focus, our walk, concerning Jesus?
In attempts to describe Jesus, all of which are futile, we hear, “He cares,” “He hugs,” “He weeps,” “He has a big shovel, I have a spoon, so each time I give a spoonful, He gives a big scoop from His shovel.” On and on goes the truth, but the greater truth is not only missed, but never even remotely considered. What He does is not who He is.
Notice Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Paul’s word “know” is ginosko, basically to know experientially with understanding. This is beyond knowing about mere benefits.
Copyright © 2013 Larry Lilly
Please take the liberty to FWD this to your list, FB, etc
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