12:33 - Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Matthew 12:35 - A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Matthew 12:36 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:37 - For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned
Jesus is the Word become flesh. The true word of the living and all powerful God we serve. Jesus is also our one salvation, our scapegoat for our sins. He was and is the sacrificial lamb for all who will receive Him. So what is it to know Christ? How are we to do so? In His word, and in our faith. As the word is read and understood, our faith will also grow. All we have to do to know Christ is to open our Bible, and let the Holy Spirit guide our understanding. The word of God is still alive and is purposed for mankind. There is no trouble on this earth, in our lives that living Christ like would not solve.
Knowing Christ may be easier than some think. When we read His words in the bible, they are not just retold to us. They have meaning today just as they did when He spoke them. Jesus is not dead but was resurrected and is alive. He is with us constantly and His message is the same. If we were to read the words, not as though we are reading a book, but as though He is sitting with us and speaking them to us, then we will feel His presence.
It is possible to know how much impact the words had when He first spoke them. We can feel His message as well as receive it. We can relate to His words. We are human enough to understand how fallen this world is and how it is similar to the world He walked in. There are those who persecute the Christian belief and Christians themselves. There are those who would seek to change the word of God to fit their own natural desires. But, to know Christ is to know the one who served God unyielding to those who sought to deny the word as being from God.
His very being is still with us as we read and listen to His word. It will appear strange to those who do not know Christ to read this that I have written, but it is possible to listen to Christ as we read.
We who know and want to know Christ will keep our focus on Him, on the prize. Our relationship with God the Father, the Creator of all that is. This relationship cannot be challenged or displaced. We are His forever and nothing or no one can change that. Jesus paid an enormous price for all who will receive Him. He showed the world what real love is. His messages as told in the bible are just as real and powerful as His sacrifice.
His words, His actions and His ability to speak, disregarding what the authorities at the time thought. He was not speaking of Himself but from God Almighty. Giving all who are willing to listen the same message. He did not have one message for one group, and another for a different group. All are the same to God. None is above any other on this earth. We are all sinners and realize this as fact. Therefore we humble ourselves before God and ask forgiveness. We accepted Christ as our sacrifice for those sins and we are washed clean before the eyes of God. AMEN.
The time for us to listen to Christ is always there. The time to adhere to His words is always there. The time to act according to His word is always there. All we have to do is do it. Follow the example He showed, as well as the way the disciples showed. Are we so different from them? Think of Peter and His denial. Think of Thomas and His doubt. Think of Paul as He transformed from the person of Saul. No, we are not that different. We as they, were once just filthy sin soaked rags.
Jesus has washed us clean through His blood, made us into fine satin and presented us perfect before God. He was given that power, and He accomplished His purpose on this earth. Our job is to remain clean. To refuse to sin. To look for the light that is Christ Jesus and walk in that light. As we do this daily, we will find that the old sins have no enjoyment for us. They will fall away as leaves do from the trees when they die. As it is written, He is the way, the light and the truth. His words are real, alive and we can not only read them, but listen to them. Jesus did not come to destroy r condemn this world, but only to save it. To offer salvation, this treasure from God.
Jesus is the living embodiment of the love God has for us. We who were made in His likeness.
We are so important to our Creator that He was willing to sacrifice His only Son, that we may be offered forgiveness forever. So, to know Christ is to know God. To know Christ is such a life altering adventure. It not only leads to our salvation, to a perfect eternity, but it will change the life you live today. God has allowed each person the golden opportunity to be relieved of their sins, and their fears. We have been given a stay of execution so to speak. We are no longer condemned but redeemed. Made new in Christ and reborn to a new life. We have a clean slate to write on. Gone are the sins of the past.
Place all your hopes and trust in God and just watch Him work. The Lord wants to be a part of your life. He desires that we should give to Him our worries and concerns. He desires to care of us as any loving Father would.
Truly, all we have to do is deny ourselves and accept Christ, our Lord and Savior. Deny ourselves of the natural way, hatred for hatred, evil for evil, lie for lie, and so on. We should follow the guide set forth by God Almighty and love, forgive and show compassion. Then we all can enjoy the peace that comes from God. We will learn to love as He does and to treat each other as we should. We can then walk according to the Word of God and be Holy. For we are commanded to be perfect and that perfection comes from the Lord.. Christ will make you perfect in His love, and will teach you how to live. Listen to the Word of God as you read the New Testament and see His love come to life. Take the promises of God as He presents them. Be at peace and suffer no more from the past and be refreshed by His grace. Amen