Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ

Recently, as in yesterday, I started going through John Piper's Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ (which you can download for free here) and got to an interesting question/prompt:

"What do you love about Jesus Christ? Make a list of attributes or qualities that cause you to treasure Christ. Include biblical stories that display these qualities."

So without further ado, here is what I initially came up with:

• He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)


• He is omniscient. (John 16:30)


• He is Peace, Assurance and Hope for all who believe. (1 Peter 1:13)


• He is the purification I so desperately need. (John 3:17, Hebrews 1:3, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 25:8)
  


• His love is eternal. (Romans 8:38-39, Galatians 2:20)
  


• He is exactly who He says He is. (John 7:28-29, John 8:58, John 10:30, John 12:44-50)
  


• He was obedient, even to death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)
  


• He was tempted in every way and was still without sin. (Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:15)
  


• He is a healer. (John 4:43-54, Luke 13:10-17, John 11:1-44)
  


• He is the promise of scripture fulfilled. (Isaiah 9: 6-7, Luke 22:35-38, Isaiah 49:6)
  


• He labored in prayer with the Father. (Matthew 26:36-46)
  

• He upholds everything by the word of His mouth. (Hebrews 1:3, John 1:1-5)
  


• He conquered death. (Matthew 28:1-10, Romans 6:4-11, 1 Timothy 1:8-10)
  

These are the ones that immediately came to mind for me, but what I really want to know is what attributes or qualities make YOU treasure Christ? What stirs your affection for Him?

Encouragement

A few things that have been encouraging me lately...

1. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height or depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

2. Hurricane by Jimmy Needham. I could listen to this song over and over and over again (and have). After probably 50 listens in the past week it still ministers to me.

3. Worshiping, serving and taking communion (weekly) at The Village Church.

4. My 2nd-5th grade girls that I get to serve every Sunday. They are unbelievably precious and smart, and I am constantly encouraged and challenged by them.

5. Covenant friendships.

6. The fact that I get to come home tomorrow.

7. Pen pals.

8. Hymns. Today's favorite = Blessed Assurance.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

9. Having a boss that takes the time to know, encourage and joke with me.

10. Being given a clear vision of how the Lord "views me" on Sunday. One of the first times I can remember God giving me a very clear image in order to communicate something. So powerful.

Let's talk about Job

Can we just take a second and talk about how awesome Job is? Good.

The other day I was sitting around feeling sorry for myself (let's just say working 40 hours a week all summer while friends and family are hours away hasn't exactly been helping my "outlook")... then I started reading through Job and got to this:

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job 1:20-21

Umm whoa. Conviction much? Just in case you didn't get that, Job just had every earthly thing that he cherished taken away (minus his wife... but that's a whole 'notha story ;)) and he responds by saying:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

I don't know about you, but I know that when I'm made to be uncomfortable, much less when I'm grieved by something, my first response typically isn't worship. Now, it's not that Job wasn't devastated by the loss of his family and estate (heck, in chapter 3 he curses the day he was born!), but his power lies in his faith and in his knowledge of the Truth.

You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.

Job 10:12

Personally, I know that when I'm feeling sorry for myself or disheartened, it always comes down to a lack of trust. If God is good and does good and wants good, then why be discouraged? It's something I have to constantly remind myself of. I guess that's what I love about Job... he's human but he "gets" it. He worshipped. He didn't accuse or turn away from God, he fell on his knees and worshipped.