ome of us may still be having one form of turkey or another. The imagination of the country's cooks is demonstrated in its finest form these days. The leftovers take on new life in all sorts of creative ways. The bounty of the harvest becomes the burden of the palette and we can't wait to get a shot at a fresh pizza or hamburger. We are so blessed we almost can't stand it sometimes.

Last Sunday morning at Hillside Christian Church we explored how the life we have with Christ depends on the leftovers we have when church is over and we are not in the presence of other Christians or performing as expected. The Jesus we live with and serve daily is the Jesus we really live for and depend upon for salvation and direction in our lives. It isn't the church Jesus we serve. It is the personal Jesus that we carry in our hearts and minds that determines everything.

The testimony of Jesus' words and deeds was given to many people in many different situations. The primary purpose of those words and deeds was to convince people that He truly was the Son of God. In the fifth chapter of John and many other texts Jesus confronts the unbelief of His audience with all the passion and miracle-working power He could muster to convince the listeners that He was not merely a prophet or great teacher, but was literally God in a human body. In several places He staked the possibility of eternal life squarely on the basic building block of truly believing that He was who He said He was. The Jews wanted to kill Him or ascribe His abilities to Satan himself. They could not accept the whole truth about Him.

This conflict is still at the elemental heart of the struggle we all face. We have to be real with God about it. Do we really believe that Jesus Christ literally walked this planet and breathed our air as Creator God in a human body? If we truly believe He did then it changes everything and He has the right to be all He said He was. If it is questionable or just a nice story for those who choose to believe it, then that is all it is. Who do your leftovers say He is to you? Is He still just the cute baby in the manger? Is He still the dying Savior on a terrible cross. Is He the all-conquering Lord of All…. your life included?

Take a minute and see if your Jesus is the one revealed in the Bible. If He isn't the one you find there, then "Who do you say that He is"?