Live As He Did

Yesterday I was reflecting on the following verses - 1 John 2:3-6 NIV:

[3] We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. [4] Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. [5] But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”

The last line certainly jumped out at me and gave me some good themes to think on, and ask myself some questions:

• If someone looked at my life, would they see any similarity between my actions and words and Jesus’?

• Do I really understand how Jesus lived?

• What does living as Jesus did look like in our modern world?

• In what ways am I not like Jesus?

• How can I better hear and obey the words God has spoken and continues to speak to me?

As I reflected a few things came to mind.  First, was the humility of Jesus.  He was never about promoting himself, but He lived to bring Glory to the father!  

Secondly, although He taught in the Synagogues, and spoke often about the Father, much of His ministry was done with the individuals. He always had time for the one in need.

Thirdly, the majority of His life  was actually spent in hiddenness,working as a carpenter in a small town.  His relationship with the Father was radical, but His life was largely unremarkable, so much so that his brothers were not sure of his calling (John 7:5).  

Fourth, He was completely obedient to the Father in what He said and did - John 12:49 NIV:  “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.” 

• And - 

John 5:19 NIV: “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

Lastly, He was revealing to us what the Father is like.  John 14:9 NIV: “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

• And - 

Hebrews 1:3 NIV:  “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

As I reflect on these points, I am so aware of my limited ability to truly represent Him to those around me!   Lord, help me to live my life like You lived.  Help me to understand Your invitation is to do exactly that, learn to live like You did, in relationship with You, the Father and Holy Spirit, representing you to all I meet.

Help me Lord, for I am far from living as You lived!

Amen!

The Big 8

This morning I felt led to read from Peters, second letter.  As always, I try to listen with my heart, seeing which verses resonate there.  The verses for this morning are -  2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV:

[5] “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What a great list of things to pursue in our life, in context of relationship with Him:

Faith

Goodness

Knowledge

Self-control

Perseverance

Godliness

Mutual Affection

Love

I guess we could call these the big 8, active character qualities to emulate Christ!  I find it interesting that the last on the list is Love.  I don’t think this means its last to add, but it is that which covers everything else.  

Pul in his letter to the Colossians, says something similar, where he calls the pursuits virtues - Colossians 3:12-14 NIV:

[12] “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Taking a very small literary license, his list of 8 is:

Compassion

Kindness

Humility

Gentleness

Patience

Forebearance

Forgiveness

Love

I think either list is well worth our while to cultivate in our lives! Oh that I would be known to possess and practice any of these, and especially love.  In thinking about these two lists, it's like Peter and Paul are describing the same person, Christ Jesus, but from slightly different perspectives. 

Our call is to embrace, to emulate, and to become like Him!  Chief among all the virtues, and that which holds them all together is love!  

Oh Lord, help me to love well!   

I pray that this might be the characteristic people notice most about me!  That my words, my actions and even my demeanor might be loving!

Amen and Amen!

You Have Great Faith!

This morning I opened my Bible to Matt 15 and was reading through the story of the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demonized.  This morning I was struck by her absolute persistence!  Here are the verses - Matthew 15:21-28 NIrV:

[21] “Jesus left Galilee and went to the area of Tyre and Sidon. [22] A woman from Canaan lived near Tyre and Sidon. She came to him and cried out, “Lord! Son of David! Have mercy on me! A demon controls my daughter. She is suffering terribly.” 

[23] Jesus did not say a word. So his disciples came to him. They begged him, “Send her away. She keeps crying out after us.” 

[24] Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the people of Israel. They are like lost sheep.” 

[25] Then the woman fell to her knees in front of him. “Lord! Help me!” she said. 

[26] He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

[27] “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their owner’s table.” 

[28] Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! You will be given what you are asking for.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.”

Imagine the audacious faith it took to reject what Jesus said to His face!  Why in the world would this woman press forward in spite of the very words Jesus just spoke to her?  Clearly love for her daughter compelled her!  That and I believe the gift of faith from the Father!  

Desperate prayers from desperate hearts seem to always stir compassion in Jesus. He doesn’t need His compassion stirred, for compassion is one of the chief characteristics of God, but it is rather a dependence of His compassionate nature, that enflames His compassion!  

Does that make sense?

We must depend on His compassion, and open ourselves to His compassion, even relying on it!  He desires to express His compassion for us, for that is His nature, that is what He revealed about himself, and that is something Jesus demonstrated over and over again!  Can we believe that He will have compassion on us?

Back to the woman, who wasn't a Jew, her love for her daughter compelled her!

Will our love for others similarly compel us to press in, to pursue that which only He can provide?  Will we allow our faith to be stirred, or will we just assume that God isn’t going to answer our prayers, and walk away down-trodden?

Make no mistake, this miracle was God’s will, the woman didn’t change His will, but there was something Jesus was after in both the moan and her daughter!  

In fact, we don’t know for sure, but I wonder if this event might have been what Jesus was referring to in His warnings, found in Luke 10:13-14 NIV:

[13] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. [14] But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.”

We see that many people from that region followed Jesus (see Mark 3:8), and one wonders if this woman’s story was part of the reason?  Or possibly, this miracle was the direct result of her hearing from those that had seen what Jesus was doing and came back and told her?  

Either way, there was expectant faith in this woman and her life and the life of her daughter were radically impacted by the compassion of Jesus!

This morning I am stirred to greater belief and dependence on Jesus’ compassion!  He knows our situation and He is compassionate!  Is He inviting us to pursue Him, to press in, to rely on His compassion to produce  a miracle in our life?  

I know Jesus wasn’t disappointed, nor put off by her persistence, but rather He exclaimed, “Woman you have great faith!”  Oh that He would say the same thing about us!

Amen and Amen!