May 30, 2010
Make God Known Today
“To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.”
Psalm 145:12
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When is the last time you talked to someone about God’s power in your life? Recently, I went to my favorite beach and sat at a table overlooking the blue water, feeling the breeze, and talking with some friends. As I walked up, I joined a conversation already in progress. The themes I hear every day at the beach are the same themes that Jesus talked about in the Bible. I hear many people say that they have read the Bible, but they do not seem to understand what is in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the main theme of the Bible, along with the love of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
In Psalm 145, David has been talking about the power of God. He wants to tell of God’s power, and speak of the glory of the Kingdom of God. In Psalm 145:12, David continues this theme, and tells every believer in Jesus to “to make known the mighty acts” of God and the glory of the majesty of the Kingdom of God. Jesus commissioned us to speak of His mighty acts, and the glory of His Kingdom. Notice that God used the phrase “to make known to the sons of men.” We can talk all day long, and the people listening to us may never understand what we are driving at. David said God commands us to tell of His mighty acts so people will understand God. By our words, we make God known to men.
As I sat and listened in on the conversation at the beach, I heard someone say that Jesus never claimed to be God, and so we should not worship Jesus. After hearing this comment, I turned to John 8:48-59. In this passage, Jesus absolutely claimed to be God, and He precisely said He was the “I AM” God of the Old Testament. Notice John 8:56. Jesus is talking to the Jews; remember that Jesus was Jewish Himself. Jesus said that Abraham rejoiced to see the day of Jesus and he saw it and was glad. So the Jews asked Him how He could see Abraham (who died about two thousand years before Jesus took flesh) when Jesus had not turned fifty years of age. Jesus responded and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM” (John 8:58). To understand that statement, as any Jew would, you must remember that God instructed Moses to introduce God as the “I AM” God. Every Jew understood that claiming to be “I AM” means you are claiming to be God. You can read about Moses in Exodus 3:14. Notice that right after the Jews heard Jesus say He was the “I AM” God, they took up stones to kill Him (John 8:59).
I also heard today that Jesus should not be worshipped. Well, because Jesus claimed to be God and presented convincing proof that He was God in the flesh (John 5:33-47), He should receive our worship. God furnished proof to all men that Jesus really is God by raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 17:31). God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
One great way to make Jesus known to the sons of men is to read the Bible to people. Instead of dreaming up some smart answer, or winning an argument, why not read what Jesus said about Himself? I always try to avoid arguing with people. Instead, I want them to read for themselves right out of the Bible the verses that answer the questions they have.
I also explain to people about how the power of God has changed my life and the lives of my friends. You see, to make known to the sons of men the power, majesty, and love of God, I need to let them hear from me. In Psalm 145:12, Jesus commanded us to make known His mighty acts and the glory of His Kingdom.
One other passage came up in our discussions recently. A man said that you must become a child, empty and innocent, to enter the Kingdom of God. Well, just a few days before at the beach we had read Luke 18:15-17. In this passage, the disciples of Jesus were trying to keep parents from bringing their babies and children to Him. Jesus said: “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter at all” (Luke 18:16-17). You see, my friend had remembered a verse, but he did not really understand how one enters the Kingdom of God. Instead of being empty and innocent, Jesus taught a teacher of the Jews about how you enter the Kingdom of God.
Jesus told Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, that “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). While one must receive the Kingdom of God like a child (by faith in the truth), Jesus also explained that you cannot even see the Kingdom of God except if you are born again. Jesus taught that His kingdom was spiritual, and not of this world (John 18:36). To enter the spiritual Kingdom of God you must be born again spiritually, by the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus further explained to Nicodemus that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Jesus meant that you must be born of the Holy Spirit of God by receiving Jesus by faith. Jesus gave His life to pay for my sins. As a child, I asked Jesus to forgive me of all my sins, and to take control of my life, and I believe that He did. My sins are forgiven. Jesus hears everyone who asks Him to forgive their sins and He will hear your prayer too. He promised to forgive us of our sins and wants to live in our lives everyday (Galatians 2:20).
Application for Today
Today I will use my words and my actions to make known to my family, friends and neighbors the mighty acts of God and the glory of His Kingdom. I want Jesus to shine from my life. When Jesus brings people into my life hungry for a better life, I will let them know about the power of Jesus Christ in my life, and how He wants to forgive them and live through them. What will you make known to your family, friends, and neighbors today? Words of power and strength, or words of misery and despair? When we talk about the mighty acts of God in our lives and the majesty of His kingdom, we will make Jesus known to the sons of men. Ready to make Jesus known today?
