Reflection on Jesus Essay Example

Reflection on Jesus Essay The teachings of Jesus, His death and resurrection, and the promise of His return provide believers with a firm foundation for living, confidence in God’s power and provision in our lives, and clear direction in The Way. As a believer, His message directs my educational choices, guides my life experiences, and determines how I approach society. Christ teaches that the measure of successful living in His eternal kingdom is far different than the standards society espouses. In Matthew 5, He lists many â€Å"blessings† that our society defines as character flaws or weaknesses. Jesus asks believers to remove our trust in possessions and self-gratification. He calls us to live differently so that others can see Him clearly in us, and in doing so, offer hope to those who are hurting. Christ provides practical guidance for daily living. Throughout Matthew 5 and 6, He challenges believers to examine our motives and make decisions beyond the letter of the law. We are to consider the â€Å"thought life† behind our actions and strive to make those thoughts and motives pure. (Bradley, 2012) In doing so, we are able to live righteously in both the law and the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV) Jesus cautions His believers not to forget the glorious purpose we are called to. By being the salt of the earth as described in Matthew 5, we are called to live in a way that mirrors Jesus’ sacrifice, which can preserve a dying world as salt preserves food. Jesus asks us to reflect His light and illuminate a dark world. Each parable in Luke 15 displays how highly God values us. His pastoral, possessive, and parental connections to us are also revealed, as is His great concern when we are separated from Him. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Jesus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Jesus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Jesus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The parables allude to God’s efforts to rescue, retrieve, and restore us to Him and the great celebration that results when we are reunited. By reflecting God’s love to the world, we fulfill our purpose and help â€Å"find† the lost. The account of Jesus’ death and resurrection in Luke 22-24 demonstrates His great love for us, His perfect obedience to God’s will and plan for His life, and the fulfillment of that plan through tremendous sacrifice and divine restoration. Jesus sets an example of perfect obedience for us in Luke 22:42. He was fully aware of His impending torture and death, yet he still submitted to God’s will. Remaining obedient throughout His trial, crucifixion and death, Jesus fulfilled every promise in Isaiah 53:5, where it says â€Å"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. † Jesus defining moment comes not in His death, but in His resurrection, as Luke 24 describes. It is through Jesus that we are restored to the Father. Paul explains, â€Å"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. † (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, NIV) Matthew 24 tells of great trials, unrest, and distress that are to come before Jesus returns. Jesus talks about worldwide turmoil; catastrophes so severe that â€Å"If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. † (Matthew 24:22, NIV). Even in this foreboding message, Jesus provides hope for His believers. Matthew 24:31 encourages believers that Jesus will gather them together to be with Him. Nobody will know the time of His return, so he provides guidance for His followers to stay alert. Jesus gives the promise of reward for those who are faithful and prepared in verses 45 through 47, but also warns those who are not prepared in verse 48 through 51. As a business major, I am preparing to lead others professionally. While leadership comes with a temptation to serve my own interests, Jesus teaches in Matthew 5 that greater gains in life will come through servant leadership and humility. This approach may be misunderstood by my peers, and may cost me professional and social opportunities, but I don’t have to worry about those costs. Jesus says, â€Å"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. † (Matthew 6:25a, NIV). His death and resurrection prove that He has the both the authority and the desire to provide for me. I need only trust Him. Matthew 24 provides encouragement for this approach. â€Å"It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. † (Matthew 24:45b, NIV). Jesus’ teachings guide me as I daily turn over all of my will to Christ’s care and control. I minister in a Christ-centered recovery program for anyone with hurts, hang-ups, and habits that keep them from having an intimate relationship with Christ. Jesus provides the â€Å"8 Principles† of this program, in order, through the â€Å"Beatitudes† found in Matthew 5:3-12. I live keenly focused on â€Å"practicing these principles in all my affairs. (Baker, 2005) I do so with the confidence that Jesus’ death and resurrection, as described in Luke 22-24, have brought me back into relationship with God. I hold firmly to the promise of Matthew 24 that I will be reunited with my Creator. Rather than insisting on my rights, amassing wealth, or living self-centeredly, Jesus calls me to live counter-culturally; so that others can see Christ in me. Following Jesus means living the example He sets in the midst of His betrayal, trial, and crucifixion: not my will, but God’s. I do all of this with the hope and promise that even though I may struggle, I can learn to be â€Å"reasonable happy in this life, and supremely happy in the next† (Neibuhr, 1986) when He returns. References Baker, J. (2005). Celebrate recovery leaders guide. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Bradley, M. (2012, August 18). You are what you think. Retrieved from http://www. bible-knowledge. com/you-are-what-you-think/ Neibuhr, R. (1986). The essential reinhold niebuhr: Selected essays and addresses. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

IB Extended Essay Topics For Biology

IB Extended Essay Topics For BiologyIn these days of the expanding syllabus and of the increasing focus on IB Extended Essay topics biology offers a great way to diversify your coursework. There are several great choices when it comes to Biology-biology in particular- that you can consider in your IB Extended Essay topics.This is not meant to be a complete listing of all the Biology-related topics, but it does show off some of the ones that most students will be familiar with and that can be used to great effect in their extended essay. I always suggest that if you are not familiar with one of these topics that you consult with an instructor or even your advisor about it. There are probably better IB Extended Essay topics for you, and the instructors and advisors I spoke to were all very enthusiastic about the choices available to you.You should know that if you are a biology major and in a major with such types of major courses, you should have no problem with the choice of Biology as an IB Extended Essay topic. You will probably be able to find Biology coursework that covers all of the major themes from the major. Make sure though that the Biology coursework is fully accredited by the relevant accrediting body so that your IB Extended Essay paper is recognized by your school as being valid. There are many good online sources that can help you with this, and I recommend that you spend some time doing your research into this topic as soon as possible.I recommend that you start out by focusing on Biology- especially the 'big questions' in the biological world. These questions include such things as- how did life begin? And why did life begin?Biological questions are always at the heart of Biology, as they are in most disciplines. But there are other questions that are frequently asked and often considered as important questions in Biography and History. Why was Charles Darwin famous? Or, why are there still androids?Biology is of course an endless source of thes e questions, and the section for these topics will vary depending on which course you take. If you are taking a class in Bio-Technology, you may well consider learning about artificial life forms. If you are taking a course in Environmental Sciences, you may want to look at microbes and in particular bacteria.Biology is also a fascinating subject. It involves the study of life, and the things that life does. Biologists are constantly looking for more ways to identify life in its natural habitats. You might be interested in learning about animals that are critically endangered, or to learn about fish and amphibians that are threatened by over harvesting.When you graduate from college you can take your IB Biology exam and get credit for not only the biology courses you have taken, but for the study you have done on Biology. I always recommend that you work hard in your IB Biology coursework to help develop your personality and values, but also to prepare you for life-long dedication t o the knowledge and appreciation of Biology.