Stacie Gibson is a wife and mom of four kids from New York. She serves alongside her husband, Matt at Grace Baptist Church, Dansville NY where they both are certified biblical counselors. Stacie is certified with ACBC and IABC and loves sharing God’s Word with women. In her “free time” you will find her homeschooling her children, reading and spending time with her family.
This summer the ladies in my church are going through a study by Elyse
Fitzpatrick called Found in Him: The Joy
of the Incarnation and Our Union with Christ. So far, the study has been
very beneficial for me as I have had to dig deep into the truths of the
incarnation and the believers Union with Christ. My desire and hope is that the
ladies of our church don’t just leave this class with big theological heads,
but to truly understand what these major doctrines mean personally for them and
give hope as they live out their Christian life.
The incarnation and life of Christ while he lived on this earth for 33
years can bring so much encouragement to our weary souls and women we help.
There is a place for this doctrine in counseling and here is why: The Hebrew
author says in 2:14 that the purpose of incarnation was to destroy the works of
Satan and to make a propitiation for the sins of the people (vs. 17) but also,
another reason the Word became flesh and dwelt among us was so Jesus could help us in our time of need as
our merciful and faithful High Priest. When you and I are knee deep in
suffering or a woman comes to you that has been encountering temptation, the
truths of the incarnation and life of our suffering Savior can speak into an
aching heart and bring much hope and joy that we are not alone.
“Therefore
he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful
high priest in the
service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because
he himself has suffered when
tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
What stirs me about this text is that Jesus had to be made like His
brothers in every respect. We may be
tempted to think that Jesus is just like us, sin and all, but He was tempted in
all things as we are, without sin. Just because Jesus was without sin shouldn’t
cause us to disregard this truth. He was 100% God, but He was also 100% human
with emotions and physical needs. The Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 5:7 that
“In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears...” Can you relate? Do you find yourself on your
knees during suffering and trials with loud cries and tears? Christ understands
you when you have been sinned against with abuse or abandonment. He knows what it’s like to lose a loved one
and to face temptation. Knowing this about our Savior should cause us to draw closer
to Him in our time of need and receive grace and mercy.
Take heart beloved that you are never alone! Jesus is not just some man
sitting in heaven that is distant and cold. No, He is personal wants you to
draw near to Him with confidence. If you are in Christ, you are His beloved daughter
and He loves you. He loves you so much that learned obedience (for you!)
through what He suffered (for you!) to become the source of eternal salvation
for all of those who obey Him (Heb. 5:8). Christ can identify with you, and
that is why He is not ashamed to call you His sister.
Labels: Guest Blogger- Gibson