"He Shall Be Great"
Luke 1:32
Ever entertain great thoughts about
Christ! Let your thoughts of him always be high. Ask God to cause your
estimation of his Son's greatness and glory to be ever expanding and never
diminishing, and your thoughts of self to be ever diminishing and never
expanding. Make this the constant cry of your heart - "He must increase,
but I must decrease" (John
If we have high, lofty, grand thoughts of
Christ, we will obtain a proper understanding of all other things. In the light
of Christ's great love and sin-atoning sacrifice we see the depths of our sin
and degradation. We hate our sin, which wounded Immanuel and made it necessary
for him to suffer and die, only to the extent that we know the value of Christ's
blood. When we begin to realize what Christ has done for us by his almighty
grace, our gratitude and love for him will grow. Grateful love for Christ will
compel us to consecrate ourselves more and more to him. The more fully we
consecrate ourselves to him, the more bold we will be in speaking for him and
the more willing we will be to suffer with him. Our great Savior's greatness, compels us to surrender everything to him
willingly, never imagining that we have made any sacrifice at all.
Entertain great thoughts of Christ, and
you will have great delight in him. A great Savior gives a great sense of
security to those who trust him. Nothing shall ever change him, overcome him,or hinder him. Therefore, his sheep are assured that
"they shall never perish" (John
If you would rise above the cares of earth
and the toys of time, you must set your affection on Christ and let all your
thoughts of him be elevated. Earth diminishes as Christ rises. Burdens become
lighter when Christ is magnified in the heart. Troubles are less troubling when
Christ's greatness is beheld. Sorrow is less painful when Christ is seen upon
his throne,exalted, great,and glorious.Faith is
stronger when it apprehends the greatness of Christ more fully. The way to grow
in grace is to let your thoughts of Christ grow!
Don Fortner