Lift Up Jesus

I heard two messages this weekend that had great potential but were very disappointing in that they could have pointed to our Savior and the cross but instead directed the attention at us.

The first was at baccalaureate Friday night. The message was on Isaiah 42:1-9, which is clearly talking about Christ, but the speaker instead turned the passage on its head and made it about the graduating class of 2009. This was disappointing because while Jesus can offer hope for the future, we cannot. Sure, we can act as God's servants by his grace, but without the assurance of knowing what he has already done and promised to do, our efforts will be weak and pointless.

Saturday morning might have been worse. The title of the address was "Please Don't Save the World," and it was supposed to be based on Philippians 2:1-11. Once again, there was great potential, but rather than saying that only Christ can change hearts for eternity, he said that we cannot really do anything. How is that encouraging or inspiring? I might as well stay in college if that is the case.

Lift up Jesus. Show us that he is the one who will bring about justice. "He will not falter or be discouraged" (Isaiah 42:4). There is glorious hope awaiting us. That is motivational.

One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11), and until that day, we are to serve him faithfully with that hope in mind.