Wednesday, August 25, 2010

a snippet from T. Austin-Sparks

The Meaning of His Birth

But we may begin with the meaning of His birth, and by

that l mean Jesus' humanity, His manhood.

What is the meaning of this clear and profound choice of God?

God's normal way to man is by man.

God`s normal way for man to Himself is by man.

Even in those extraordinary visitations in the Old Testament when God Himself

came in what are called theophanies, men saw men -- and afterwards said it

was the Lord.

It would be perhaps speculating, and certainly not very convincing

or conclusive or profitable to say that that is probably how God walked

with Adam in the garden -- in a theophany, in the form of a man. just as

He came to Abraham, and Abraham afterwards realized that that it was the

Lord. And so with others.

There have been, of course, independent speakings of God to men

without any personal form being taken, but Gods normal way to man

is by man, and for man to Himself through man. Manhood is God's normally

chosen means and method of communication.

Bear that in mind. God has so often refused to act independently of man. He

has chosen by His means and decision to communicate primarily through man

to man for Himself. He has so largely committed Himself to man. In a very real

sense God has put Himself into the hands of men. That is a very solemn truth.

But remember that it is man in union with God who is God's instrument and

means of bringing others to Himself. being His Way.

No comments:

Post a Comment