Picture: Counsel #27 — A Spiritual Study CI 29.1
Today, Jesus is often treated like a symbol, or someone to quote on social media, wear on jewelry, or bring up in debates. When you look beyond the popular image of Christ and actually open the Bible and study Scripture, you’ll discover a much deeper, more powerful reality. CI 29.2
The real Jesus isn’t just a figure of peace and kindness; He’s also bold, deeply compassionate, completely honest, devoted to truth and justice, and He’s all-knowing. He didn’t come to be liked by the crowd. He came to serve, heal, save, and to challenge everything broken in this world, including what’s broken in you. He confronted hypocrisy, welcomed sinners, and carried a cross He didn’t deserve. The more you study His life — looking beyond the quotes people post; actually doing a deep dive into the Gospels — the more His character will stand out.[29] https://www.adventist.org/holy-scriptures/7-ways-prepare-study/ As time passes, He becomes more than a trending name or a religious idea; He becomes real. And the more you allow Christ to show up in your life, the more you’ll realize He isn’t just Someone to admire, He’s Someone to love, to follow, to trust, and to model. CI 29.3
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…” Colossians 2:9 NIV CI 29.4
“Oh, how much we need to know Jesus and our heavenly Father that we may represent Him in character.” Ellen White in God’s Amazing Grace, p. 229 CI 29.5
Reflect: Do you know Jesus from a worldly perspective or from Scripture? CI 29.6
