The Simplicity Of Christ

A STORY: - I am reminded of a story of a great orator & motivational speaker who was able to speak so eloquently and have people captivated with his delivery style and inflections of his voice. One day when he was getting ready to deliver a speech to a great multitude of people, he was in a room practicing his speech with the door open when the janitor of the building stood by the door and listened. When the man realized the janitor was standing there, he asked the janitor could he help him. The janitor replied, the sound of your voice is wonderful, the way fluctuate at certain points is truly awesome if you would I would love to hear you say the 23rd Psalm. The man said I will say it but when I am finished you must say it to me in return and the janitor agreed, so the man cleared his throat and began to recite the 23rd Psalms, he said it with such great style and inflection in his voice and when he was done, he said to the janitor now it is your turn. The janitor took off his hat, folded his hands, bowed his head and in a simple and humble voice said the 23rd Psalms. When he had finished, he opened his eyes and saw the orator crying with tears pouring down his face. The janitor said sir why are you crying, the orator said because I know the verse, but you know the man. It is not about performance but about Jesus.

THE SIMPLICITY OF CHRIST LEADS TO A SIMPLE LIFE. Titus 2 lays out the pattern of a simple life, but verse 11&12 states “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. Living soberly this is being of a clear and unconfused mind, not inundated with a bunch of confusion, anxiety, strife, mental anguish and such. Righteously this is not being so focused on things such as happiness, pleasures, wealth which are all temporal and are not able to fully satisfy you apart from Christ, but living with the expectation of an eternal and glorious reward that cannot be destroyed by moths, rust or thieves Matthew 6:19-20. Righteous living is morally acceptable behavior to God, it is justice, justness, and holiness. A godly life is much like a righteous life, but it also involves Romans 12:1-2 be not conformed to this world but being transformed by the renewing of the mind, presenting your body a living sacrifice. 2 Timothy 2:15 study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth avoiding godless speech.

CLOSING: - The Simplicity of Christ causes us to understand that we don’t have to be consumed by the complexities of our world today with all its turmoil, individualism, political uncertainty, economic emasculation, social anxiety, and utter division. People are inundated with enough mess without having Christianity or a so-called form of it piling more complex standards, rituals, and obligations upon them.

Jesus said it so simple and plain in Matthew 11:27-30 “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. He simply says come unto me. He didn’t say take this off, put that on, pay a ridiculous amount of money, sow into that ministry, climb a thousand steps on your hands and knees, or run after that so-called prophet, He simply said come.