Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 NLT
How did Jesus live each
day? Is it really possible for us to live as He lived?
Here are five things to
consider:
The first is His
dependency.
So Jesus
answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is
able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only
what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son
does in the same way. John 5:19 AMP
Jesus lived each day
dependent upon His Father. He did not live independently, think independently,
or act independently of His Father. He spoke what His Father wanted Him to say
and He did what His Father wanted Him to do. He received from His Father all He
needed for each day.
I am the
Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much
(abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you
can do nothing. John 15:5 AMP
We can also live each day
in complete dependency
upon the Lord. He is our strength, our life, our sufficiency, and He is the
source of all we need.
The second is His
faithfulness.
Think
carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High
Priest. For He was
faithful to God, who appointed Him. Hebrews 3:1-2 NLT
Jesus lived each day in
faithfulness to what His Father called Him to do. Jesus stayed true to His
Father’s plan and will for His life. He didn’t drift away from it or follow it
half-heartedly.
‘Well done,
good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will
make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23 NKJV
As followers of Jesus
Christ we can be faithful to what God has called us to do and do His will
whole-heartedly.
The third is His
obedience.
“Father, if
it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but
Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 NKJV
Jesus lived each day in
obedience to His Father’s will. Jesus not only obeyed His Father, but He obeyed
Him without delay. He obeyed willingly and joyfully.
Obedience to God’s will in
our lives is a choice we can make each day. As God’s children, He trains us to
be obedient because He knows what is best for us. It is through our obedience
that we know the meaning of a joy-filled heart and a meaningful life.
The fourth thing is
His motivation.
And He who
sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those
things that please Him. John 8:29 NKJV
The reason Jesus lived the
way He did was because He wanted to fully glorify and please His Father. He
lived to please only His Father and have His approval.
Therefore we
make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV
The motivation of our
hearts should be to please Him. There is nothing higher than that. When we live
to do what is well pleasing in His sight we will know His smile of approval
upon our lives.
The fifth thing is
His empowering.
Then Jesus returned to
Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.
“The Spirit
of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will
see, that the oppressed will be set free.” Luke 4:14, 18 NLT
Jesus was filled with the
Holy Spirit. Jesus lived each day in the presence and the power of
the Holy Spirit. All that He did in His public ministry was under the anointing
and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
I will put My
Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My
judgments and do them. Ezekiel 36:27 NKJV
Since His ascension to the
right hand of the Father, Jesus has made it possible for each of us to be
filled with the Holy Spirit and to have His power in our lives. It is by the
Holy Spirit’s presence, fullness, and power that we can walk as Jesus walked
and live as Jesus lived. Ask Him now to fill you, empower you, and lead you
step by step into His plan and purpose for you in 2013. ~Roy Lessin, Dayspring
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