Deck 3 – The Son

           

          Do you ever sense the supernatural, the spiritual, the invisible? I seem to most often in nature: watching a hummingbird hover over a red flower, seeing a newborn baby turn their head to the voice of their mother, or feeling the interior relief of a conflict resolved?  Something more than the visible seems to be at work. Why are we drawn to novels and movies about alternate universes or other realms, almost always with a superhero? (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel just to name a few) What are we searching for? Who are we searching for?  Do you ever wonder why people fawn over sports stars or movie stars or now, “influencers”?  Why do we seek heroes?  Why do we need someone else to model what our lives should be like or look like?  We humans have a restlessness in our hearts and souls.  We sense we are created for more. Do you think we are wired for more “stuff” or more love? 

          Anyone with a few years under their belt has realized that “stuff” doesn’t satisfy the yearnings of the human heart.  The worldly definition of love and sex and humanity seems to disappoint more than it satisfies which is evident in the confusion of our culture.  I, like the generations of Christians before me, suggest a different way of searching for meaning in life and it doesn’t include fads or the latest superstar.  A Christian’s way of living is centered on the person of Jesus Christ, a Son, our God.  Our way of living should be focused on faith, hope, love, mercy, humility, and joy – things of which the “world” knows little.

          Whether we are “believers” or not, most of us sense something else directing or maybe even someone else orchestrating our lives. What we sense is Jesus’ grace (his very life) working in us.  We can feel the tug of Christ desiring to break through to our often hardened, sinful, prideful hearts if we but take the time to listen and search for Him in prayer.

          God the Father created us in his image and likeness with a heart and mind that senses his presence in creation and yearns to be in relationship with him, with Love.  The classic country song lyrics by Johnny Lee – “Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places” are so true for us.  Mankind gets lost looking for its hero, (our Creator) in “things”:  in our human relationships, in our accomplishments or in our wealth. Sin, pride, and vanity distort and constantly redirect our search for God and trap us in endless loops of despair, blindness, and hopelessness, crippling our lives.  Crippling our joy. Crippling our peace. Crippling our fruitfulness. This endless, hopeless trap of enslavement to sin, a life far away from our loving Creator, is exactly why, in his merciful goodness, God the Father sent his Son, Jesus, to earth to save us, to free us from these traps.

          Jesus bridged heaven and earth, the natural and the supernatural, the human and the divine – all united in the one person of Jesus. He rebuilt the bridge by his sacrifice on the cross so we could gain access to God which we lost by our sins.  We can once again walk in the garden (a metaphor for a right relationship with God) in the cool of the night with our God. We can now be on familiar terms, adopted, living in an intimate relationship with our Creator!

          Jesus is that Son of just that loving and merciful of a Father. He was humble enough to come to earth in a form we could approach.  He performed miracles, preached truths about God and morality, compassionately forgave sins and chose His successors.  He proved that even cruel, unjust human suffering can lead to grace and to love, proving that mercy is powerful and humble.

          Take the time to learn Jesus’ story, to learn who He really is and what He really wants of you. Spend time meditating on the power behind his being the Son of the living God. Let him touch your heart with his mercy and grace and heal your wounds. Let his truth penetrate your soul and animate your thoughts, words, and deeds.  Ask Jesus to forgive your sins, to renew your heart and to increase your faith in God and in his heavenly (supernatural) ways.

          Find Jesus, learn to love Him, learn to trust him, learn to be humble and good and merciful like him. In his WORD and in your heart, you will find him, and your heart’s capacity for love will grow and you will never need another influencer or superhero again.

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Inspired by:            

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men, and hating one another; but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…Titus 3:3-5

…for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Matthew 5:45,46

Of those whom you gave me I lost not one. John 18:9

I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.  John 12:32

You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the Lord… Jeremiah 29:13-14

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Genesis 1:26

God is love. 1 John 4:8

For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes have closed…Acts 28:27

He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…Colossians 1:15,16,19

…you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. Acts 14:15

…love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.  1 John 4:9

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed… “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  Luke 4:18,21

But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.  John 17:13

 …your all-powerful word leaped from heaven…touched heaven while standing on the earth.  Wisdom 18:15,16

He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13-14

Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.  Romans 5:2

I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.  John 17:26

He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:5

If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  John 14:23

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 1 John 5:1

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11

“This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Mark 9:7

…our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  John 1:3

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.  Luke 2:12

…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.  John 20:31

…your word is truth.  John 17:17

“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.  Hebrews 10:12

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

        “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

“They will respect my son.” Matthew 21:37

‘Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5

He gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! Psalms 68:35

For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.  Titus 2:11-14

Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him. Luke 20:38

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

Refresh my heart in Christ. Philemon 20

He restores my soul.  Psalms 23:3

“Increase our faith!” Luke 17:5

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.  Isaiah 12:2

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalms 62:8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.  Jeremiah 17:7

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Don’t you know Jesus is in you? 2 Corinthians 13:5

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead. Luke 16:31

You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:39-40

…and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.  Matthew 28:20