T-11: Backward Glances

A few weeks ago, I was standing at a podium delivering a lesson and I looked down to see a small plaque affixed to the surface of the podium. In large, bold letters it declared “Exalt Christ.” That little exhortation stuck with me and I’ve been dwelling on it for a little while now.

You see, I take my charge very seriously; that is the charge in 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. [1]

When I consider how I may ‘correctly handle(s) the word of truth’ I come to the convergence of the exhortation to ‘Exalt Christ’ and the call to preach the word. I decided to study how Jesus handled the word of truth and that led me to today’s verse. Consider… Luke 24:27 (NIV)
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
[2]
Christ sets the standard for all our behavior, beliefs and endeavors. Christ himself ALWAYS correctly handled the word of truth and I can do no better than to follow His example. And as revealed in this passage, we see that Christ exalted himself through the interpretation of scripture.

As a preface I offer that it is clear that Jesus knew the scripture. We could debate whether he had an unfair advantage over us in that respect but that would be to no good end. As we, as I endeavor to follow in His footsteps I must therefore immerse myself in the word of God that I may be totally filled with His word; so that I will know, with the same degree of certainty as Christ, the truth that is presented therein. Only then will I be able to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ in my frail efforts to exalt Christ.

Tomorrow, I shall revisit the stories of Caleb, Nehemiah, Daniel and of Mary. In so doing I will seek to reveal Christ in each of those examples, to rightly handle the word of truth and to exalt Christ. But today, today I will live as one who loves Christ and I will pray that my life, my very breath, will exalt Christ.

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[2] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.