The fragrance of freshly baked pecan pumpkin pie wafted through the air. The chatter of children echoed throughout my parents’ home.
Holiday weekend!
Just then, my recently turned 8-year-old son, Carson, reached out his hand to be held in mine. I cherish these moments. Time races on. I’ll blink a few times, and my little boy will suddenly be 16 years old… and reaching out for the car keys.
“Daddy, is that you?” he asked, pointing to a picture frame on a bookshelf.
“Yes, buddy, that’s me! I was a year or two younger than you when that photo was taken.” I replied.
“Is that Auntie Sarah?” he inquired again. His eyes sparkled with curiosity and wonder.
“That sure is!” I answered.
“She’s so nice. I love her,” he said, warmth bubbling up from his soul.
We quietly walked around the room and looked at other pictures positioned here and there. I later found him flipping through a dusty photo album — one hand turning pages while the other cupped his chubby cheek. I could see his keen mind whirring as he constructed our family story with each image, portrait by portrait.
Later that day, we gathered the entire crew for a family photo, replete with giggles, half-closed eyes, and toddler squeals. A family picture – shows just a glimpse. Sometimes, a photo captures a flurry of action, but it’s only one snapshot bound in time. To see a lifetime – to learn the entire story – we need a whole book of portraits…
We have little glimpses here and there of Jesus: a dose on Sunday morning, a brief snippet on Christian radio, a quick snapshot over a meme on social media, or perhaps a morning 2-minute devotional. If we’re honest, we tend to minimize the Son. We’re prone to small caricatures of Christ. But do we see the entire fabric of His story?
Jesus can’t be contained in quick snapshots. To see His mission and comprehend the magnitude of His message, we need a whole series of portraits: a deep look into His life, His power, His character, and His deity.
The apostle Paul highlighted the unfolding of the Old Testament prophetic portraits that culminated in the Messiah’s Advent, Christ’s first arrival:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5) — click here for more detail on “the fullness of time“
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)
These riveting phrases are like headlines to a massive photo album that shouts, “Dig-in to see the full story of God’s grace!”
As you and I journey through this holiday season and embark on a New Year, let’s pause over these portraits of Christ:
King of Peace (Colossians 1:13-23), King over All (Hebrews 1:1-4), King of Joy, Friend of Sinners (Luke 15), King-Servant (Philippians 2:5-11), King of Grace (Matthew 1), King for Everybody (Luke 2), and King of Glory (Revelation 1:1-8).
Pray. Invest. Invite.
Opening up God’s story of grace in Christ also re-frames our daily story. So, as we turn the pages through these portraits of Jesus, let’s pray that God grants us fresh comprehension and Spirit-led application of our Savior’s message. Now is a wonderful season to invest the joy and grace Christ has given you into the lives of those around you. Consider inviting a friend or neighbor into your home for a meal or to a nearby worship service so they, too, can see, hear, and receive God’s good news for the world.
His story changes everything.
