Years ago, I was reading in the Gospel of John, Chapter 14 and the twelth verse: 12I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.I thought..oh yea, walk on water, heal the sick, sure, I want to be like Jesus. Sadly, it was years later before the rhema of this chapter made it's way two more verses down the page.15If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.One day this verse hit me like a ton of bricks. It is impossible to "like" Jesus without being willing to be obedient to God. Paul wrote:Phl 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. I believe the bible teaches us that Jesus was totally obedient, even to death. If we want to be "like Him", we must be obedient. If we are not obedient, we are not like Jesus.Who/Whom did Jesus obey? Why His Father of course. When He was not ministering or teaching, He was stealing away to be alone with the Father, and in fact said that He did not say or do anything unless the Father first told Him or showed Him. Still want to be like Jesus? But wait, there's more....just a little further down the page, John wrote this...21The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]Alleluia. See it's not a "one way" street. God makes some precious promises. To be loved of the Father is the epitomy of life. It is abundant life, regardless of circumstances, events, and people. But wait, there is still more. Jesus went on to say that He Himself will make Himself real to all who keep His commands. Glory be to God.So where do we go to find out what to obey? The Bible? Yes....and no. See, God has an individual walk for each and every one of us. That's why He sent the Holy Spirit to us, to anoint us for what He has called us to do. In the Bible we read about what He called others to do. Some obeyed, some didn't. We see victory and tragic defeat all through the bible, those who obeyed God, and those who did not. They did not have a bible, they had God, and listend to His voice. But the purpose of the Bible is to teach us His ways. Yet it goes beyond that. It brings us to the place of the cross where we surrender our life and begin to take up His life. Now we have a life that can be led by the Holy Spirit. But even then, we must yeild to His leading in obedience. This is where obedience begins and is matured. The more we obey His voice in personal relationship, the more we are like Jesus. Then what happens? God only knows. But I can tell you this of a certainty, you will be amazed by His mercy, His grace, His presence, and His direction. You will live the life of the high and narrow way. You will live above this life, in abundant life in direct fellowship with Him. Where do you start? In the secret place of prayer. Get alone with Him. Tell Him you want His love and direction. Ask Him to give you a new heart that is like Samuel..quick to obey. Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by. He's waiting just for you. To be successful in this life is to lose your life, so that you can live His life. Then you will begin to do the works of Jesus, and even greater works than these. Yes, there will be all the things that are listed below in all the other posts so far and ever more. But these matter little when you are loved by the Father and Jesus has manifest Himself too you.
