In May’s edition of the POST, Pastor Chris introduced us to Octavius Winslow and his book None Like Christ. For this month’s POST, I would like to recommend another book by Winslow, Consider Jesus: Thoughts for Daily Duty, Service, and Suffering.

The book has 31 short chapters written to daily strengthen and encourage followers of Jesus Christ, as they “consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3.1).

At a time when the early Christians were tempted to revert to the comfort of their former religious practices under the Mosaic covenant, the writer to the Hebrews urges readers to reflect on the superiority of Jesus Christ as the apostle and high priest of their confession.

Expanding on that exhortation, Winslow succinctly explores both the doctrinal and practical implications of Christ's life and work. His aim is to strengthen the resolve of believers to walk worthy of their calling as they remember God’s mercy to them in Christ.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to bridge that gap between theological reflection and practical application. For example, in speaking of Jesus Christ being forsaken of God, he asks the question whether such a forsaking was necessary. He responds with an emphatic “yes,” as nothing less than Christ’s atoning death could rescue us from sin and death.

By way of application, he asks us to consider our own lives when we feel forsaken by God and reminds us that Jesus’ God is our God and that as Jesus trusted in the Father, so should we.

Many of the chapters are paired, giving evidence to the breath of humanity Jesus experienced in his work of “fulfilling all righteousness” on our behalf: Consider Jesus – in the Lowliness of Birth and in the Elevation of Rank; Consider Jesus – in Obedience to Divine Law and in Obedience to Human Law; Consider Jesus – in Loneliness and as Not Alone; Consider Jesus as Forsaken by Man and as Forsaken by God. Other chapters look at his Communion with God in prayer and his Forgiveness of Injury.

In each there is both something unique that only Jesus could accomplish, as well as an example for believers to learn from and imitate.

Each section is relatively short when compared to the volumes that have been written on each. Yet, each contains nuggets that draw our minds to consider and our affections to embrace and wills to be strengthened as we see Christ’s work for us, and trust Christ’s work in us by his Spirit, to confirm us to his image (Romans 8).