The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 7:16-17,
"They were all filled with awe and praised God. 'A great prophet has appeared among us,' they said. 'God has come to help his people.' This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country."
Those that were filled with awe and praise for God in this account were the folks in Nain, a town where Jesus, his disciples and a large crowd went shortly after he had provided healing for a centurion's servant. According to Luke, a widow's only son was raised back to life by Jesus. Those that witnessed the event were filled with awe, praised God and made the statement that God had come to help his people.
Just what they understood, at that time, as to how God had come to help his people may be somewhat different than what Jesus himself said. For instance, many at that time were looking for someone to help them remove Rome's control over Israel at that time. But, in any event, their observation was a true one! God had come to help his people. In Matthew's gospel, when appearing to Joseph, the angel of the Lord said, "... you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21.
The important question for all of us should be, who is it that are "his people"? This is a phrase used in both quotes from Matthew 1:21 and Luke 7:16-17. It indicates that out of all people, there are some that are God's and some that are not. How do we know who the people of God are? Who are the ones God has come to help, the ones that will be saved from their sins?
It is often observed that the nation of Israel, the Jews, are God's chosen people. One of them, the most prolific New Testament writer, the apostle Paul, said, "I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!" Romans 9:3-5. From this I find that Israel holds among many things, much of the things of God. Surely at the top of the list is that "theirs is the adoption as sons...". However, as that chapter continues, Paul points out that "it is not the natural children who are are God's children, but children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring." Romans 9:8. Earlier in the letter Paul pointed out, "...he [Abraham] is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised." Romans 4:11-12. Both Jew and Gentile alike become Abraham's offspring, God's children, his people, when they embrace God in faith!
Here it is made clear that the people of God are those who manifest the faith Abraham had in God. In Genesis 15:6 we read that Abraham was credited with a righteous standing with God because of his faith. God seeks those who will embrace him in faith as Abraham did. He offers us salvation through faith in him and provides us a place at his table, as members of his family when we place our trust in him.
As we read in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." How wonderful to be included as one of God's people by simply trusting in him! Surely this is the greatest gift to mankind: eternal life as members of God's family by faith alone.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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