CONSIDER JESUS

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers
of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus,
the Apostle and High Priest of our
confession...
Hebrews 3:1

Recently, I was reviewing some things in the book of Hebrews and came across the above verse. You probably can tell the two words that caught my eye...CONSIDER JESUS. That wonderful chapter and book tells us an abundance of wonderful things about Jesus that only serves to reinforce how very wonderful He is in our lives.

Through life, we have “considered” many things for varied reasons. As I have thought of the verse, I've looked at the word and what it has said to me through time. In using that word “consider”, I know I have taken perhaps something new into account...it's meant my thinking seriously about something especially in making decision. For instance: “I'll consider going on a date with Brian. (Many years ago.)...I'll consider taking that job...I'll consider teaching that class”...all required a decision to be made on my part, usually a serious and sometimes life changing one. In every day living, we might consider what we'll fix for supper, what we will wear on a given day, planning a vacation, painting the house...any number of things. We make decisions all the time, most of which is without considering what Jesus might think. We should know that everything about us concerns Him. I'm afraid we don't consider Him in the very small details of life, BUT He is still interested in every little thing that concerns us.

I'm wondering how often we stop and just consider what Jesus really means in our lives or do we just take Him for granted? In considering Him, I believe we are called upon to make Him the vital part in everything in our ordinary days. Sometimes I think we have Him on a handy kind of shelf where we can pull Him down when we need Him. Yes, He's with us always and could really push Himself into our daily living, but He's much too much of a gentleman to do that. He wants to be a part of our decision making down to the most trivial of things. When we do that, our trust in and love for Him are both indicated.

So how do we get back to considering Jesus more than we already do? Not disregarding His death on our behalf on a cross, Jesus wants to be more beyond our salvation experience. He wants to be engaged with us in every day living. This will mean a renewed relationship with Him, perhaps falling in love with Him all over again. This will take time in the Word of God, soaking in it and considering it as we read. Prayer will be that wonderful chain of communication that can bind us to the heart of God. My love and consideration for Jesus should be greater than I have for any other human being.

As I found myself in a serious relationship with Brian and even after his proposal of marriage, I studied him. I wanted to know his favorite food, colors, cars, etc. In idle moments at work, I wrote his name on a piece of paper and then under it wrote what would be my new name just to see what it would look like. I couldn't wait for the next time I would see him, usually at church. He live and worked at a distance so our times together were limited. I know it sounds “teenager-ish” but I believe Jesus would love that kind of attention from us.

I have to ask myself now if I have that kind of love for Jesus...looking forward to time with Him, reading His love letters, wanting to talk to Him often and worshiping Him often in every day life. In the scope of our lives, do we make it a point to CONSIDER JESUS?

Dear Lord Jesus, forgive my negligence in being consistent in my relationship with You. You have provided life for me and an abundance of provision daily. I praise You for Your Word and the privilege of talking to You any time, any place. May I consider You in all of my dailies. In Your precious name....Amen