"30 Days With Jesus"

 
Well, I did it. I actually finished the two books I have been reading in my effort to gain a better understanding of the Bible and my Savior, Jesus Christ. And I find myself excited and humbled at the same time. I am excited that I at least have a pretty fair concept of God, His love for us, as well as His plan for us. And I am humbled that He loved us so much to have sent Himself, in the body of the living Jesus, to teach us and to express his love for us by suffering the Cross to atone for our sins. 
In reading of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, I am humbled not only by the sacrifice that He made on my behalf, but by the way in which I had totally misunderstood the nature of the man in the first place. You see, having never really taken the time to learn about Jesus Christ, I always took Him for granted, as a rather egotistical sort who would walk around pontificating upon people, “walking on water”, claiming to be God, and adopting a superior attitude over all he came in contact with. My ignorance was staggering. 
As it turns out, Jesus Christ is far from egotistical. He is the opposite of it! Here is a man who truly IS God in the flesh, yet who devotes his life in servitude to man! Here is a man who teaches that the way to the Kingdom of Heaven is through servitude. Here is a man who knowingly and willingly goes to his death in order that we may have eternal life. And all He asks is that we believe. What is remarkable is that throughout His entire life, Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, doubted, and persecuted; and this treatment continues of Christians to this very day. Man is so cynical as to doubt that there is an almighty God who created Heaven and Earth and all living things. We continue to doubt that that God is a loving God who yearns only to have us love Him as He loves us. Our comedians such as Bill Maher, publicly mock Him and those of us who believe in Him, just as the people of Jesus' day mocked Him and His disciples. And the people laugh at this mockery still. 
All of my newly found knowledge of Biblical things has only made me thirsty for more clarity of what I have just read. There is so much that I know I missed, that I realize that further study and reflection will greatly assist me in my quest to understand all that awaits me, if only I believe. The paradox is rather amusing, really. God's message is really quite simple. Man, in his attempt to dismiss it, has so muddled the message that we have made it complicated. Wars have been fought and civilizations destroyed over the interpretation of the Word. 
For me, God's message through Jesus Christ really IS simple: 
“God loves people and wants to have a personal relationship with them-now and for all eternity.” 
And all I have to do is believe in and trust that Jesus Christ is my savior, and my way to Him. 
How hard is that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_-A8JAx4D8
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this worldIs become the kingdom of our Lord,And of His Christ, and of His Christ;And He shall reign for ever and ever,For ever and ever, forever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,King of kings, and Lord of lords,And Lord of lords,And He shall reign,And He shall reign forever and ever,King of kings, forever and ever,And Lord of lords,Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And He shall reign forever and ever,King of kings! and Lord of lords!And He shall reign forever and ever,King of kings! and Lord of lords!Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!