Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19)
Have you ever had such a respect for someone that you began to imitate everything they did? Some people are so wonderful its hard not to want to be that wonderful, too! So we examine them, see what they're wearing, purchase the same music as they do, begin attending the same meetings, and so on. Sometimes we even fall in love with them.
Jesus' relationship with the Father was like this. He was the ultimate Copy Cat. Whatever the Father did, he did. Whatever the Father didn't do, he didn't do. His love for being in the Ways of God trumped everything. His life was intentionally lost - then found - in the shadow of the Almighty.
Thus, a big part of what Jesus did (and a big part of what we are called to do) was simply labeling what he saw the Father doing. He did this in many ways - teaching, sharing, telling stories, all forms of communication. Jesus used his unique human personality to translate/communicate to those around him the mind and heart of God. In this way he became untied with the purposes of the Father.
Our witness to Christ has less to do with our performance, behavior, or ethical uprightness and more to do with making known what the Father is doing in any given situation. (This doesn't get us off the hook of moral integrity. For it is in the making known, or labeling, "Christ among us" when the Fruit of the Spirit will then be demonstrated with ease and gentleness.) So our job is to first duplicate the ways of the Father and then communicate - in our own unique personalities with our gifts and skills - what we see him doing. It's not up to us to conjure up the work. He is always working. Why add our work to his work? Just be about his work and he will get the glory.
Father in heaven, forgive me for the times I have tried to read your mind - or worse, for the times I have sought to create work that you were not doing. Fill me with your Holy Spirit in order that I may be a deep reflection of your Love for me, and then empower me to reflect you to others through the unique way you've created me, on earth as it is in heaven. In Christ's Name I ask you. Amen.
Have you ever had such a respect for someone that you began to imitate everything they did? Some people are so wonderful its hard not to want to be that wonderful, too! So we examine them, see what they're wearing, purchase the same music as they do, begin attending the same meetings, and so on. Sometimes we even fall in love with them.
Jesus' relationship with the Father was like this. He was the ultimate Copy Cat. Whatever the Father did, he did. Whatever the Father didn't do, he didn't do. His love for being in the Ways of God trumped everything. His life was intentionally lost - then found - in the shadow of the Almighty.
Thus, a big part of what Jesus did (and a big part of what we are called to do) was simply labeling what he saw the Father doing. He did this in many ways - teaching, sharing, telling stories, all forms of communication. Jesus used his unique human personality to translate/communicate to those around him the mind and heart of God. In this way he became untied with the purposes of the Father.
Our witness to Christ has less to do with our performance, behavior, or ethical uprightness and more to do with making known what the Father is doing in any given situation. (This doesn't get us off the hook of moral integrity. For it is in the making known, or labeling, "Christ among us" when the Fruit of the Spirit will then be demonstrated with ease and gentleness.) So our job is to first duplicate the ways of the Father and then communicate - in our own unique personalities with our gifts and skills - what we see him doing. It's not up to us to conjure up the work. He is always working. Why add our work to his work? Just be about his work and he will get the glory.
Father in heaven, forgive me for the times I have tried to read your mind - or worse, for the times I have sought to create work that you were not doing. Fill me with your Holy Spirit in order that I may be a deep reflection of your Love for me, and then empower me to reflect you to others through the unique way you've created me, on earth as it is in heaven. In Christ's Name I ask you. Amen.
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