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12/11/23 How Do You Represent Jesus?

“I hover over the reputation of Jesus. I am about to restore you to how I think of Him. For too many years, those of you who call yourselves by His Name have been allowed to show others He is something that He is not. He is not weak, nor is He a hypocrite. He is not jealous and given to infighting. He does not covet riches. He does not take what is not His. There is no pride or fear in Him. Jesus always flows in perfect love. He never thinks of Himself before others and although He is God, He never esteems Himself higher than the lowest of creation.

"Worthy of all praise, surrounded by glory, adored by all of the heavenly host, Jesus is King of all Kings. He is the Lord over everything, praised through all eternity, and honored with the highest honors for all time. He is Jesus. There is no name in heaven or on earth that is higher than that Name. He is Lord, and delights in being your true Advocate Friend. What kind of representation have you given Him? He has given you His Name to carry in your world. Have you lifted it up so it is held in the esteem that it is due, or have you brought it down to the level of every other name? It is time for you to be an advocate for your Advocate."

Hebrews 1:3 AMP

He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high, …

You and I represent Jesus! Have you ever given that enough thought to have it become truth in your spirit? You and I bring either honor or discredit to His Name by the way we act, speak, and live. We carry His Name.

The Bible tells us to raise up a child in the bent in which he or she functions. When she was younger, our daughter, Jubilee, understood and functioned in the concept of compensation for works; so Merry and I established an honor point system for her. In other words, Jubilee was given our own form of compensation for the proper representation of Jesus and our family. This, of course, was over and above the normal praise for who she is and how valuable she is to us, which we bestow upon her lavishly. She is an honorable girl with a wonderful heart.

Points were given when we observed or were told of some “above the normal,” high function. Someone else had to initiate it on her behalf. Points were removed if she brought discredit in any way. When she reached a certain number of points, she received some specific object or privilege that delighted her heart. The delightful thing was that she did not go around trying to be a good representation in order to win points, but her becoming aware of proper behavior through this reinforcement of points helped her to flow naturally in what God desires for all of us.

Our “system” was a mechanical way of making Jubilee aware of the fact that she is a representation of Jesus and our family values everywhere she goes and to everyone she meets. People know something about Jesus and us when they meet her. We have been told by others over the years that they see the character of Jesus being formed in her as she grows in Him. Jubilee always delights our hearts, but when we see her prospering in the joy of the fact that she understands how she really belongs somewhere and is part of something as important as representing two very valuable families, we praise God for that wealthy concept in her.

People know Jesus by how each of us acts. We may not receive tangible honor points or get a reward because of the way people see Him through our actions; but one day, we will see if we truly have brought glory to His Name. Jesus is the Name above all names. Father God is forming us to wear it well.

Teach me how, Lord,

Jim Corbett

12/11/23 Warning and Promise

Jesus came with a warning and a promise. He warned the darkness that their rule of mankind was about to end. He promised mankind that they no longer needed to be helpless and under the control of the ruler to whom Adam and Eve had submitted themselves through their disobedience. They could now be released from that bondage if they chose Him and His life.

As a husband and father, the most important life you can show your family is the life of Jesus. Using the Word and the life imparted to you because of the cross, they can have safe passage through all the turmoil of the world. Their lives can be an example of the wonder of the life of Jesus, if you show them Who He is by being an example of Him in their midst.

How are you doing with that? How is your relationship with Jesus and your intimacy with God coming along? Are you prioritizing your days in the quest for intimacy? Are you determined to know Jesus and the power outflowing from His resurrection as your priority? Are your plans for your life the same as God’s?

Men, you carry the most important and most difficult offices ordained by God. You are called to carry His life and His hope to those you steward. You also have access to the throne room to receive anything you need, any time you want. Nothing can hinder your success if you walk with your heavenly Father as Jesus did and walk in the promise that Jesus gave. The bondages of the world should have no hold on you because you are His. Walk in that freedom for the sake of those who are yours and for the glory of God.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

12/09/23 Time to Rethink Something

“When Adam fell, any possibility of you having a relationship with Me was destroyed until Jesus bought that right back for you. He destroyed anything that stood in the way of Our being together. You now have free access to Me for any need you might have because of the blood covenant that was made in your honor. Why, then, do you not come to spend time with Me? You come with your lists, your needs, and your desires. You come when you are afraid or need to be cleansed; and when you have run out of answers. You, however, rarely come simply to spend the kind of time together that was lost in the garden and gained back at the cross. Our relationship is why you were created in the first place. It is time for you to rethink your idea of what Our relationship is all about. From My side, it’s all about love. Why do you think Jesus spent His blood?”

Genesis 3:8 NIV

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Luke 23:44-45 NIV

44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

45) for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP

1) THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].

2) And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

Col. 1:20 AMP

And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

How many times have you opened your heart up to someone only to have that person use you, abuse you, and then throw you away after he or she is done with you? Just think of the price that was paid for you to have access to the Creator of the world. How have you honored that privilege?

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

12/09/23 Rejecting an Offer

A poverty stricken man had to travel to his job, which was located in a distant city. Because he was so poor and it was the only job he could find, he had to make the trip there and back each day in an old, barely running rust bucket of a car. His livelihood depended on that car. It was the only means for him to get there, even though it often broke down, causing him often to almost lose his employment.

So every morning long before anyone else was even up, the man packed all that he would need for the trip, and took off down the road in a cloud of smoke that would obscure him from sight the further he would go. Late at night, he would return exhausted, only to have to do the needed repairs on the car so that he could make the trip the next day.

One day, as the man pulled over on the side of the road to make some repairs so that he could continue on his journey, a kindly man in tattered clothes walked up to him, seemingly from nowhere. "I've been watchin' ya make this trip every day. Been lookin' at ya from my porch over there," he said, pointing to a run-down shack just off the highway behind some trees. "I feel sorry for ya with this no-luck car that ya got, so I'd like to help ya," he continued. "In that barn over there," he turned and pointed to a barn that looked even worse than the house, "I got me this limo. It's yours if ya want it cuz I don't use it no more. I'll even drive ya wherever ya gotta go if ya want me to. Got nothin' better to do."

"Get away from me, old man," the traveler spat with impatience. "I have enough trouble without someone like you making promises that you can't keep." With that, he returned to the well-worn muffler to reattach it.

The next day from his front porch, the kindly man sat and watched as the beat up jalopy hobbled its way down the road again. Shaking his head in sorrow for the embittered traveler, he headed toward the barn to polish the new limo he had inherited, wondering how he might use it to help someone that day.

How often do we, as husbands and fathers, respond in the same way to God’s offer to be in charge of every situation we face?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

12/08/23 Designed Moments

“Treasure every moment I give you. I have created them with My own hand. I have made them especially for you until We are joined forever. Seek Me as to what you are to do. Seek Me, so that you can know your purpose for living. I will show you what I plan to accomplish through you. There is purpose in it all. Waste no moments. They are Mine. Use them as I have designed you to use them.”

Matt.7:13-14 NIV

13) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Col. 4:5-6 AMP

5) Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.

6) Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].

Those who are aware of the times and seasons in which we live are divided into two groups. One group is preparing with moderate zeal because they understand how wonderful it would be to be part of what might soon take place. They are flowing in their usual “this is gonna be good for me” attitude and believe that it will be adequate for whatever happens, whenever it happens.

The other group, those of you who have chosen to live as Jesus lived, have heard the same call, only you have learned from intimate times with the Father that compromise is not part of the character of Jesus. You know that the kind of heart that finds satisfaction in anything other than the Father’s will is in no way similar to Jesus’ heart.

You have learned that it is important to the Father that Jesus recognize Himself in those who are waiting and/or working for Him. You know that responding to the present call to intimacy is important to God and are willing to do so for no other reason than to glorify the Father and please Jesus. You know that falling in love with Jesus, a vital and often missing part in the fulfillment of God’s plan, is necessary and you desire to do what it takes to go there.

Make my days count, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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