"Christ is Faithful as Son"

23 Mar 09
Monday of the Fourth Week in Lent

Christ is Faithful as Son
Hebrews 3:1-6

One of the challenges of contemporary living is the fast pace of change. One has hardly the time to register the changes that take place, let alone think about them. In 2008, we were impacted by the ups and downs of many unprecedented global events. How should these events be perceived and understood?

In times like these, the exhortation to “consider Jesus” is crucial. To “consider” requires disciple and cost. Consideration takes time when “no time” is on the lips of many. It requires sacrifice when “opportunity lost” is to be avoided at all cost. It clamours for substance when the world is satisfied with “performative rhetoric”. It demands a cultivated nature and the mental ability to weigh things up and think things through. What does the church have to offer if it does not give due consideration to the issues that are common to all? The church should always ask “What would Jesus do?”

Jesus in His focused vocation is hardly in serious discourse or consideration among Christians today. It is not surprising because expectations of immediate and mega impact are expected and are pose d as deciding criteria of power. Faithfulness as a Son of God who appoints is very different from being faithful itself. The Son is called and sent to do the Father’s will and none other. This requires the ultimate sacrifice of the Son facing nothing less than death on the Cross! Only then is the Son worthy to be the centrality of our confession and the high priest of all creation.

We belong to Him (“we are His house”) only “if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope”. Let us learn to “consider Jesus” lest we become of no encouragement to others (Hebrews 12:3) and lest we fail to be thankful and humble (Hebrews 13:7).

(The Most Rev Dr John Chew,
Bishop of Singapore & Primate of the Province
Of South East Asia (Anglican))

Commitment:
Lord, I surrender my right to force-in worldly content and comfort to my own life but instead to “consider” the faithful cross-centred life of Jesus as the measure of my life.

Prayer:
Lord, open our blinded eyes, clear our confused minds, and soften our hearts to recapture “the vision of the Cross” and cause us to deeply consider “the breadth and length and height and depth” of His faithful love. Amen.