Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
Jesus came to earth as the pattern Son, to show us God’s intent for who man should be. Hebrews 2:10-11 says “Hebrews 2:10-11 “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren“. He came as the only begotten to raise more Sons who would be exactly as He is. So, He lived among men and lived as a man should be. Yesterday, we mentioned that the disciple observes the discipline of the one He follows and does as He sees.
Jesus preached and taught His disciples to do so. He prayed and showed them that the way to succeed in all that God had given to them was to pray always. Hence, He said “Man ought always to pray and not to faint., Luke 18:1” Jesus was a diligent student of the Word and said “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God”, Matthew 4:4. The next key Jesus showed them and which would characterize his disciples is being a doer of the Word. Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work”, John 4:34. Jesus did only the will of His father, to the point that He said “I can of my own self do nothing”, John 5:30. Jesus came to show us that a true Son of the Father is one who is obedient and that the end of our faith is perfecting obedience to God, such that we can do absolutely nothing except what God wills. In essence, our rebellious soul is completely conquered and we are locked into God’s will.
So the practice of obedience is essential to all who are disciples because this is the mark of sons. Obedience to His Word is a proof that we love Him, John 14:15, and that we want to attain to that glory that He has promised us. He also gives us the ability to do all that He asks by His indwelling Spirit in us, Philippians 4:13. Another key Jesus showed us is how to be a servant of God and by extension, a servant of all men for God’s sake. Jesus said “The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many”, Matthew 20:28. Our appreciation of the Love of Jesus Christ to us, is to pledge our lives to His service and as we see in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. If we say we love the Lord, we are called unto a life of service to Him.
What God wants each individual to do is different and He has put in man all He needs to accomplish the work. God’s heart beat is for His bride, His church, that she may be built up and prepared for His coming. As true disciples, our heart beat must be for the house of God as well. David bound himself to a oath regarding the house of God, saying “If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.”Psalm 137:5. We are Jerusalem from above, Galatians 4:26, the Church of the first born and Mount Zion, as Hebrews 12:22-23 says. All who make Jerusalem their Chief Joy show their true devotion to God. The word of the Lord says “they shall prosper who love her”.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, I want to be Your disciple and love the things you love while hating the things you hate. Father, I declare today, that my meat also is to do Your work and to finish it. I will do Your will Father, Help me to do Your will always. Give me the heart of a servant, to serve You with all my heart and to be spend and be spent for You and Your house. Father, teach me obedience that I will loose the ability to do absolutely anything, but what you will that I do in Jesus name. Amen.
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