The Virtuous Life – Day 210 – John 13-12-17 – Given You An Example – Growing As Disciples
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:12-17 (NLT)
My Example
I have given you an example to follow. What will you do? How will you respond? What course of action will you take? I want to know and do your will. Is my will a mystery to you? Have I hidden my desire for you? Must you be very wise to understand what my will is for you? No, your will is not a mystery. No, your desire for me is clear. I don’t need to be wise to know your will. However, my doing what you desire and living out your will does require wisdom. Is that all that doing my will requires of you? No, doing your will require many things from me. Like what? My doing your will requires faith. I must believe that you love and care for me and that you have a purpose and plan for my life. My doing your will requires humility. I must not be proud and think that I have a better, more perfect, way of thinking, and speaking, and acting. My doing your will requires obedience. It would do me no good to simply know your will but to fail to do your will. That would be foolish. Yes, it would be foolish. I have more to say about doing your will. I’m listening. Doing your will require strength and endurance. It may not always be easy to do your will. It will require strength and endurance for me to keep on doing your will. What will be the source of your strength and endurance to do my will? That is the best part, you will help me to do your will. You will give me all that I need to do your will. You will keep on helping me to do your will as I keep on relying on you. Yes, I will.
We have gone a little bit ahead of ourselves in our conversation. What do you mean? You haven’t told me what you understand my will is for your life. It is so obvious; it didn’t get stated. State it now, for me. It is your desire that I follow your example. You have given me an example to follow. You want me to become like you in all I think and say and do. You want me to live the kind of life you lived. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to give like you gave. You want me to serve like you served. Is that it? I am sure that there is much more. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to live a life of prayer. You want me to hear your voice. You want me to receive your guidance and follow your instruction. Day by day, you want to guide the course of my life. Yes, I do.
What will happen to you as you follow my example? God, my Heavenly Father, will bless my life. His favor will be with me. His hand will be on me. I will live the life that I have been called to live. Yes, that is true. Will you follow my example? Yes, I will. That will be very good.
Lord, thank you for giving me numerous examples to follow. I will humbly serve others. I will sacrificially give away my time and talent and resources. I will love like you loved. I will give like you gave. I will serve like you served. I will gladly follow and obey you. Amen
Key Question… How is it the priority of your life to follow Christ’s example in your thinking, speaking, and acting?
Living It Out… Follow the examples Christ has given to you so God will be able to bless your life.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your life will be blessed as you follow the examples Christ has given to you.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are following the examples Christ has given to you.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow Christ’s example of serving others.
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