The Best

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TITLE: The Best
DATE: November 27, 2018
TEXT: Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) - 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 

Just a few weeks ago I was told I had to figure out who was the best political candidate for office. Now I’m being told that I have to figure out the best brand of hover board to give to a grandchild for Christmas. The search for “the best” is ongoing.

You see, all of us are continuously being asked to discern what is best.

That being said, it is a sad commentary on our generation that so many people believe there is a “best” when it comes to  schools, political candidates, perfumes, under arm deodorant, washing soaps, shampoos, razor blades, beer, and fast food places, but still think all gods are alike, who maintain it makes no difference what they believe.

There are millions who think every road is going to take them to heaven.

Which is why we Christians do our best to help people discern that Jesus is best.

• We say to the world, “Let your eyes be opened. See clearly that the world’s religions, every one of them, with the lone exception of Christianity, promotes a god who demands, with fierce anger, and fiery threats, that his followers earn their own salvation.”
• Every other religion says, “You must struggle, and strive, and stumble to work your way up to god.”
• See the truth: only Christianity shows God’s grace; only Christianity shows the Lord’s love; only Christianity has a Savior; only Christianity speaks of His suffering and sacrifice which have won salvation for all who believe.
• See the truth. See the Savior. Who has kept the laws we have broken, rejected the temptations that have tripped us, and defeated death’s damnation which we have deserved. Have your eyes opened to Jesus Who has the only Name that saves.

Jesus is the only name that saves.

Wow! That says a lot. Today, it’s fashionable to be open-minded. Being open-minded sounds so modern, so sophisticated, so in tune with the times. But have you noticed that open-mindedness seems to be confined completely to things like faith, salvation and morality?

Look, there are a lot of places where people aren’t open-minded.

We aren’t open-minded when it comes to paying our taxes. Nobody has ever said to Uncle Sam, “Here’s my bank account, take what you want.” Yes, I know it feels like we do that, but the truth is, we want to pay what we owe, and not a penny more.

We’re not open-minded when it comes to medicine. Nobody goes to a doctor and says, “Doc, I’ve been diagnosed with a liver tumor. Could you give me some of those pretty pink pills? No, I don’t know what those pills do, but I like the color, and besides, I believe one pill is as good as another.” We want the right medicine, in the right dosage.

Similarly, the Lord wants His people to discern what is best; He wants them to acknowledge Jesus as their Savior, their Substitute; their Redeemer and their Lord. He wants us to help them discern what God has done for them in Bethlehem, at Calvary and at that borrowed tomb.

He wants us to help them see the Savior as being the best, the only Redeemer.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there is no one like You; no one like Your Son, my Savior. Let me always see that He is not just the “best” Savior; He is the “only” Savior. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.