Living As Jesus Did

Are you living life God's way or your way?

1 John 2:3-6  And we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments.  4  If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.   

5  But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him.  6  Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

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Most of us remember being separated from our parents in a large store when we were young. They told you not to wonder away from them but you disobeyed and now you are standing there all alone in a panic.

All of a sudden you realize that you cannot do life without them. This brief encounter makes it obvious to you that you are helpless without them and you swear that for now on you will stick to them like glue. How long does that last before you start to drift apart from them again?

We treat God the same way, he tells us how to live and that we should stick by his side but then we decide to wonder off and before too long we find ourselves in a panic. Living life our way seems like fun for a while but then something happens and we don't know what to do. We know that if we live the way that Jesus told us to live then we will have the peace and security that we desire to have in this crazy world.

The Bible makes it clear that we cannot do anything to earn a ticket to heaven but it also makes it clear that getting a ticket to heaven isn't the end of the story. We don't get to behave the way that we want just because of grace. We don't get a free ride just because we said a special prayer. In case you overlooked 1 John 2:6 let me show it to you again:

"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."

How can you think that you know him when it doesn't have an effect on the way you live? Do you really understand what Jesus did for you?

Obedience Matters
Psalms 119:4-8  You have charged us to keep Your commandments carefully.  5  Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees!  6  Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with Your commands.  7  As I learn Your righteous regulations, I will thank You by living as I should!  8  I will obey Your decrees. Please don't give up on me!

It is disturbing to me that many people die that didn't have any signs in their lifestyle that they "knew Him," their life didn't show any signs of a relationship with God, they were not obedient to God's commands yet their family suddenly gets all spiritual about them after they are gone. Do we have any reason to believe that they really "knew Him" and that their eternal destiny is heaven?

Human nature wants to live life to satisfy our own desires until life throws something difficult at us but for those who really know God, their love for him will bring about obedience, their lives will become increasingly like the life of Christ.

The best thing for us to do is to obey God but first we have to get to know God and know what he expects from us. The Bible makes it clear that if we really understand who we are and how bad our situation is while we are lost in our sin then obedience to God's rules won't be optional. If we really understand who God is and get to know him and realize how much he did for us then it must have an impact on the way we live.

Help me Lord to fully comprehend how much you did for me that I could never do for myself. Only then will I desire to obey you completely.

More scripture on love and obedience: John 14:15, 14:21-24, 14:31, 15:10, 21:17

Does Anybody Still Care WWJD?

"…who ever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

Many people used to use the slogan "WWJD?" The bracelets and t-shirts were all over our bodies and the stickers were on our cars.

Where did it all go? Have we stopped caring about the answer anymore, since you don't hear the question as much in recent time maybe Jesus example is too old school for us.

Maybe we don't really want to know what he would do. Maybe Jesus response to a situation or his thoughts about our daily life are not welcome anymore.

I say that it is still a valid question that we all need to answer in order to please God, remember, nobody pleased God on this earth as much as his son did.

What Did Jesus Do?

He Prepared Diligently

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature with God and men.

He Served Faithfully

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve

Luke 22:42 "Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done

He Worshiped Regularly

Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.

He Prayed Fervently

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 6:12 …and spent the night praying to God.

He Witnessed Boldly

John 3:11 "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony."

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

He Mentored Lovingly

Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.

Matthew 5:1 His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He Lived Holy

1Peter 2:21-22 Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.

This list came from some old sermon notes, a sermon preached while WWJD was popular. It really drove home the point that we fall very short of doing what Jesus would do.

I need to apply this list to my life and begin to live with a greater awareness of what Jesus would do. I bet the world around me would take notice and be greatly influenced by the change in my life.

Thank you Lord for showing us what you would do and how you would live.