LIKE JESUS

LIKE JESUS

READ:
1 John 2:5-11

He who says he abides in
[Jesus] ought himself also
to walk just as He walked. 
- 1 John 2:6

During a children's church service, the teacher talked about the first of the Ten Commandments:  "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).  She suggested some ways for the kids to keep this command.  She said, "Nothing should come before God-not candy, not schoolwork, not video games."  She told them that putting God first meant that time with Him reading the Bible and praying should come before anything else.

An older child in the group responded with a thought-provoking question.  She asked if being a Christian was about keeping rules or if instead God wanted to be involved in all areas of our live.

Sometimes we make the mistake of viewing the Bible as a list of rules.  Certainly obeying God (John 14:21) and spending time with Him are important, but not because we need to be rule-keepers.  Jesus and the Father had a loving relationship.  When we have a relationship with God, we desire to spend time with Him and obey Him so we can become more like Jesus.  John said, He who says he abides in [Jesus] ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6).  He's the example we can follow.

When we want to understand how to love, or how to be humble, or how to have faith, or even how to set our priorities, we can look at Jesus and follow His heart. - Anne Cetas

Lord, as I look ahead to another day, I give myself
to be led by Your Spirit.  Give discernment in
priorities, but most of all a sensitive heart to live like
Jesus did-filled with Your love and power.  Amen.
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Jesus calls us to follow Him.

INSIGHT
Hours before Jesus went to the cross, He spoke to His disciples about "a new commandment" to "love one another" (John 13:34).  But the requirement to love was not new; God had commanded the Israelites to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).  What was new was the standard of loving:  "As I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34).  Instead of walking "in darkness," we are to "walk in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:6-7).  We are to love each other with the love modeled by Jesus.

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace