There Came a Man (Santosh Poonen)

The amazing paradox of the Christian experience is that as you get to know God more and more, you will actually feel like you know less and less of Him. This is because when you were first born again you were still pretty earthly-minded. As you grow in Christ, you will become more heavenly-minded and will realize that God is far greater than your pea-sized brain could ever fathom. God's plan for mankind is that we are not only saved but also come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4). He made no such plan for the angels who fell away, yet sadly most of mankind wastes His plan of salvation. For there to be a mediator between God and Man, it had to be someone who fit both sides. That's why Jesus, the Son of God had to also become the Son of Man (I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:14-18). When we truly see that it is in the same spirit of mediation with which Christ came to earth as a man, that men are now called to pray (I Timothy 2:5,8), it will change the way we pray. You've only truly prayed when at the end of it, you have a little more of God's thoughts and a little less of your own. Your prayer-life will change when you realize that if God was willing to give up the most valuable thing He had — His only Son Jesus — for your sake, He will freely give you all things that come with Jesus! John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the first coming of Christ, and he is describe in these terms: there came a man sent from God (John 1:6). We in the Church have the same mission to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ. So, even if it can't be said about anyone else around you, let God be able to say of you, "There came a man/woman sent from God..." God is looking for men and women sent by Him who have the same mentality that Christ had - that they can't afford to sin even once. He can accomplish Christ's work of mediation through such men and women. In the example of Jesus we see what it really means to "be a man" (Philippians 2:6-8): not grabbing His position; laying aside His privileges; becoming a bond-servant; making Himself like others; humbling Himself; becoming obedient to the point of death. The true man of God (I Timothy 2:8): is devoted to prayer; has hands that are holy; is cleansed from anger; is cleansed from dissension — i.e., quarreling, resentment, and doubt.