Too Much New Testament? April 9, 2015

Have I Seen Him? 

¹² After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. Mark 16:12 ESV

Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many are partakers of God’s grace who have never seen Jesus. When once you have seen Jesus, you can never be the same, other things do not appeal as they used to do:

Always distinguish between what you see Jesus to be, and what He has done for you. If you only know what He has done for you, you have not a big enough God; but if you have had a vision of Jesus as He is, experiences can come and go, you will endure, “as seeing Him Who is invisible.” The man blind from his birth did not know Who Jesus was until He appeared and revealed Himself to him.

Jesus appears to those for whom he has done something; but we cannot dictate when He will come. Suddenly at any turn He may come—“Now I see Him!” Jesus must appear to your friend as well as to you; no one can see Jesus with your eyes. Severance takes place where one and not the other has seen Jesus. You cannot bring your friend unless God brings him. Have you seen Jesus? Then you will want others to see Him too. “And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.” You must tell, although they do not believe.

Chambers, Oswald (2011-05-01). My Utmost for His Highest, Classic Edition (p. 72). Discovery House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

As I reflected on today's reading from Chambers, I realized that my prayers tend to focus more on thankfulness for what God has done for me, rather than who Jesus is to me. 

"Thank you for guiding me through (fill in the blank)." Rather than giving praise to God for His involvement in my day-to-day life.  "Thank you for taking care of my cold." Rather than being thankful that He work all things to the good of them who love Him.

Most of my Bible time is in the New Testament with little time in the OT.  In the Old Testament we see the big God. The infinite Alpha and Omega.  Jehovah Jireh.  In the Psalms the language elevates, the verses connect on an emotional level.  Yes, the miracles, the interactions, the sermons of the New Testament are of vital importance to a Christian's life, but we still need the Big God of the Old Testament to elevate and expand our vision of who God is rather than what He has done.

I need more of the Old Testament to allow God to "appear in a another form".