Do whatever Jesus tells you

This is pretty good advise. It came from a woman who knew Jesus very well. His mother knew who he was and what He could do. And so it was pretty simple. “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now the “whatever” wasn’t going to make any sense to them. They needed wine. He told them to put water into some jars. But, she advised them to do whatever He asked. And so, the rest of the story is pretty simple as well. They did!!

May I do whatever He tells me.

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, John 2:5-8 TNIV

How can you do anything other than obey?

God doesn’t make us do anything. It is all voluntary. It is our choice.

Have you seen Him? How can you do anything other than obey?

“Jesus never insists on obedience, but when we truly see Him we will instantly obey Him.” ~~ Oswald Chambers

“Quiet! Get out of him!” ~~Jesus to the demons in a man

Jesus has authority over everything. To the demons He says “Get out” and they do. They know who Jesus is. They obey Him.

“Quiet! Get out of him!” ~~Jesus to the demons in a man (Mark 1:25-26 The Message)

“Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.” ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us and gives some good advice. Focus on today’s needs and not long term plans. It runs counter to many things we hear. The whole culture of planning and success theology are at odds with what Jesus demands.

God is in control. Our plans don’t matter much at all. Not to God anyway.

Jesus demands we follow a different path. Travel light!!

 “Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.” ~~Jesus (Luke 10:4 The Message)

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There is a difference between willing and doing. I may be willing to give up everything for Jesus but will I do it?

“I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide to act.” ~~Jesus

Jesus only does what he hears the Father say to do. That is His standard for us as well. We are living in His new government if we do what God asks us to do. Jesus knows the source of his power and life. The life of a disciple of Jesus is one all about listening to God and deciding to act on what He wants us to do. That is the source of power in His world.

Notice the sequence.

• Listen
• Decide
• Act

“I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide to act.” ~~Jesus (John 5:30-33 The Message)

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“You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders.” ~~Jesus

Jesus can be trusted. He doesn’t have a self serving bone in His body. He only does what He sees the Father doing. That is it. He is all about loving God. He always realizes God’s goal. He is the perfect Son.

He challenges us to live the same way with the same power of God’s Holy Spirit. We can trust Jesus. He is looking out for our best interests.

Obedience becomes the central issue. Will we carry out orders? Will we obey God?

“You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders.” ~~Jesus (John 5:30-33 The Message)

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Can I be more than happy?

How can I be happy? How can I be more than happy? It is pretty simple and straight forward. Follow His directions. Do my best to find Him in everything. I can go my own way and I can go His way.

Happiness, true happiness, comes from keeping one foot in front of another on His road. He speaks to my heart in a frank and direct way. I hear him. Will I listen and do?

You’re more than happy when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.

Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me. Psalm 119:1-8

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How do we learn trusting-obedience?

How do we learn trusting-obedience? This is not an answer we want to hear. We learn trust and obedience by suffering. That is how our Master Jesus learned it. That is how we learn it. It is the process God uses.

We surely wish it could be another way. This is the only way however. This is the way of God, our Father.

Trust and obedience, in God’s world, are linked. We can’t trust if we don’t obey.

Thank God for the Holy Spirit who helps us.

“Though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. ” (Hebrews 5:9)

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Will I honor God?

Jesus is all about doing what He sees His Father doing. He listens to Him. He knows what is in God’s heart. He was obedient to the point of giving everything up, coming to live with us, perfectly following everything His Father wanted Him to do.

He honored God.

What was the result of this perfect obedience? God answered Him. Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him.

I think the essence of honor is obedience.

“Because Jesus honored God, God answered him.” (Hebrews 5:8) 

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“My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God’s Word. Obedience is thicker than blood.” ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to see the reality of GOD’s World (Kingdom). Who is our family? Who are our mother’s, brothers and sisters? What is family all about?

What is that reality? Obedience is the only thing that matters. Who is obeying GOD? They are our family. We need to be loyal to them. We need to love them.

Jesus throws conventional wisdom on its ear. Blood is not the thicker than water.

It is all about who is doing what GOD wants to have done today. Find them. Connect with them.

“My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do GOD’s Word. Obedience is thicker than blood.” ~~Jesus (Luke 8:21 The Message)

“You scratch out God’s Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this.” ~~Jesus

Jesus is talking to religious people. That would be us. He challenges us to really understand what God is saying and to quit making up things that only benefit what we want. Jesus isn’t looking for selfish people. He doesn’t want us to be religious and quote scripture for our own benefit. He knows we do this way too much.

He wants us to search out God’s word and act on what He is asking us to do.

“You scratch out God’s Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this.” ~~Jesus (Mark 7:13 The Message)

“But you weasel out of that by saying ….” ~~Jesus

Jesus is direct with us about twisting God’s words and using them to our advantage. Jesus knows what His Father said and meant. We do too. We can’t weasel out by trying to change the intent. Jesus challenges us to not be religious. It is all about knowing God, listening to God and doing what our loving Father wants us to. Obedience is preferred over sacrifice.

May I believe what God has said and act on it.

Moses said, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel out of that by saying that it’s perfectly acceptable to say to father or mother, ‘Gift! What I owed you I’ve given as a gift to God,’ thus relieving yourselves of obligation to father or mother. (Mark 7:10 The Message)

“You get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! ” ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to obey God and not follow the latest religious fads. God is clear in what He wants us to do. Religious leaders can deceive us with various fashionable and trendy ideas. This is not God’s way.

Our way is to “interpret” God’s word to our advantage. Jesus knows we do it. He demands that we stop.

God’s word and way is clear. May we follow it today and every day.

“You get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! ” ~~Jesus (Mark 7:9 The Message)

They were worried, Jesus wasn’t at all

Here is a lesson in worry from our Master Jesus. He wasn’t worried. He wasn’t anxious. He was just doing what He knew to do which was be in His Father’s house. So, his parents were worried. He was not. I should be concerned about doing my Father’s business and not worry about anything else. And, he continued to grow this way. Stuff just didn’t faze Him because He was listening to His Heavenly Father and just doing what He heard Him saying.

May I be about my Father’s business and grow in His favor. May I worry about whether I am pleasing him.

When they saw Him, they were astonished ; and His mother said to Him, “Son , why have You treated us this way ? Behold , Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:48-52

 

 

Is there a plan B?

There is no plan B. There is no backup plan. Contingencies are out the door.

The enemy lies to me leading me to believe if I don’t do what my Father wants, then someone else will do it. That isn’t the truth.

Here is the truth. God created me to join Him in the work He is doing. This is the good work He has gotten ready for me to do. This is the work I had better be doing. He doesn’t have anyone else in mind to do it. He doesn’t have a plan B. There is no backup plan. It is His plan for me.

God is ready. Am I?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

“One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.” ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In synch all the time

John was one motivated man of God. He saw first hand the unique relationship Jesus had with God. They were perfectly in synch. Never ever out of touch at all. Jesus always hit the mark, doing what He saw His Father doing, saying what He heard His Father saying. Union and communion of the highest order.

The promise is that we can enjoy the same relationship with God as well. Jesus has made it all possible. We can enjoy that same communion too.

We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy! 1 John 1:3-4

“Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.” ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Will I allow God to demolish a massively corrupt culture?

All it takes is to watch the evening news to know we live in a massively corrupt culture. Our Father has given us tools to demolish that culture. To bring it right down. But I can’t fight it the same way the world does. My tools are different. Will I allow God to demolish it in my life?

May I live a life of obedience into maturity. May I receive the good news of God’s new goal for me. May I not miss it in my life today.

The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. 2 Corinthians 10

Mere busywork

Not all work is the same. Some things are much more important in the Kingdom than others. I shouldn’t waste my time on useless work. Am I just doing busywork? Do I see that as a sham? How would this look in the light of Jesus and His glory?

May I know what He wants me to do and may I do it with enthusiasm!!

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them–Ephesians 5:11

Does planning help?

Paul knew how to plan. Fortunately, he listened to God and so sometimes was unwilling to follow what he planned so he could do what God wanted. It would have given him personal pleasure to do what he wanted. It didn’t mean that God didn’t want him to see his plans through at some point. It just had to be in God’s good timing and not Paul’s.

The thing to pursue is what God wants on any given day. He has ultimate goals for us and tasks to accomplish every day. That is all that really counts at any given point in time.

Please don’t misinterpret my failure to visit you, friends. You have no idea how many times I’ve made plans for Rome. I’ve been determined to get some personal enjoyment out of God’s work among you, as I have in so many other non-Jewish towns and communities. But something has always come up and prevented it.  Romans 1:13-15

Conditions of obedience?

When I see things from my world, I can fall into the trap that I can “dictate to God” how I want things to happen. God is God and it is only what he wants that matters. Mine is only a issue of hearing His word and obeying.

Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience ~Oswald Chambers http://ow.ly/VfjW

Doing what God said

He is God. That means He knows what He is doing even if I don’t get it. His answer is the right answer. His timing is the right timing. He is God.

My job is give it to Him and trust Him. He cares about me in ways I can’t understand.

Yep, He is God and He isn’t going to stop being God. May I live my life that way.

So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it. 1 Peter 4:17

 

 

We are on Assigment

We have been given an assigment. God has things he wants us to do. Some of that got started with the prophets. That was all preliminary to what we need to focus on right now to achieve His goals for the world. We received the gift and we need, urgently so, to pass it on to those God has called to be a part of His mission.

And so, we must devote ourself as someone who is completely owned by our Master. He is our Master. We must do all that He asks of us. And we must be urgent about. There is not time to sit around eating bon bons. Souls are at stake.

May I trust Him every step of the way. May I get on with it urgently.

I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God’s words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God’s friends. The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah. Romans 1:1-7

Not showing up

Paul decided not to show up, even though he was wanted. How often, just because someone asks us to come, do we show up not even thinking, is this something God wants us to do?  

Sometimes there is a pain that our Spirit filled life brings to others. Sometimes the timing is off. Better to show up when God wants us and not just because someone asked us to. Seek God. He will lead the way.

That’s why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us. If by merely showing up I would put you in an embarrassingly painful position, how would you then be free to cheer and refresh me? 2 Corinthians 2:1-2

Another stunning day in paradise

Our heavenly Father is so AMAZINGLY good. He is just good all the time. He doesn’t know any other way to be.

 

So …. It has been another stunning day in paradise. On earth as it is in heaven. His Kingdom come. That is what He wants me to experience. All the time. 24/7. With no end in sight. The same a billion years from now. And then a billion after that.

AMEN!!!