Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember how we got here.

This all began so long ago no one has the memory of its beginning. This life of faith did not begin with Abraham who has been credited with being the father of faith to three religions.

It began with Jesus. He told John that He was in the beginning, creating everything. Just how much faith did it take for Him to descend to earth and become the Son of Man? More faith than I have, I can tell you that.

If I had that kind of faith I would not cling so desperately to my phone and computer that allows me to read the bible and search His Word for His messages to me. He dwells within me and that is enough to live this life of faith.

But I am not perfected yet and I am hampered by this body that fails me in strength, endurance, sight and soundness. Paul talked about his thorn in the fletch, I hear you Paul, I hear you.

I am so grateful that I know with all the faith that I do have, I am not the man I once was in the flesh. I am a new creation and I do not remotely resemble the man I was. Thinking back to my first step of faith I can honestly say I did not know what I was doing. 

I said, “I don’t want to be like this any more.” Instantly one thing changed, not because I decided but because God heard my prayer, such as it was, and showed me His sovereign power over my flesh.

That was my founder but He wasn’t through with me. Slowly, all too slowly, He became the perfecter of my faith. Even today decades later He still is at work working out what dwells in me, His faithfulness, His righteousness, and His Holiness. I am what I am thanks to Him, and not something I have done for myself.

And now I am saddled with this enormous task of trying to show the lost that they too can have this life changing experience. If they want it.

There are none so lost as to think that they do not have to change. They are proud of what they are with a savior who makes all the difference in this life of faith.

Daniel 7:13-14 English Standard Version

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Matthew 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Jesus invoked the title Son of Man in His ministry and it disturbed the religious leaders of the day to the point that they conspired to kill Him. They did so by invoking a misinterpretation of the Law of Moses.

These men believed they were the only ones that could understand and serve God. They had no wish to serve a man, even one who stood before the Ancient of Days and was given dominion over all the earth.

If you don’t like the message, kill the messenger.

Now we are here serving the Son of Man in His dominion delivering His message to those who don’t like the message. Some of us are killed for it.

This is not a message that is encouraging but no less true. I would not encourage anyone to put their lives in danger but Jesus said it Himself. We are hated for His name’s sake, Son of Man.

I cannot help but look to the prophecies of Daniel and believe we serve the One who will have an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed.

What is not said in that prophecy is what comes with His Glory. His Glory is His reputation, His persona, and the love that has never been seen in any man until the Son of Man appeared.

We do not serve Him because He invoked the title Son of Man, we serve Him because He loved us first.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Invoke love.