Our Perfect Example

“…the One who sent Me is True and what I heard from Him I tell the world.” – Jesus, John 8:26

Our best role model – perfect, really – we find in Jesus Christ. Our lives should be about giving and doing for others out of love and then telling the truth we know, have learned, about our amazing God to others. That’s what Jesus did. And while He is true God and true man, and we’re only human, we can be assured and be comforted in knowing that all we have to do is what He wants us to do. God takes care of the rest.

You don’t have to think in terms of ‘success’ or ‘failure’ when things you’ve dreamed of doing or plans you’ve made don’t come to fruition. It is going to be okay. You tried. And if you tried out of love and concern for others and if you tried because you heard God calling you to that purpose, don’t be sad if it’s not the ending you imagined. A bit of disappointment is understandable for our all to human hearts.

But then you have to remember that you were doing God’s will and so the outcome was never yours to determine. It is always His. You cannot always know in this earthly existence why things end up as they do. You just trust and you learn from situations, good and bad. And you keep on asking God what He wants you to do and then you do it.

Don’t hold back, don’t delay, don’t wonder why. Well, so maybe you do wonder why! But you do it anyway. If you’ve been asking for a way to glorify God and advance His Kingdom, you’re going to know what to do. The answer will present itself before you in fairly obvious ways. It’s been my experience that sometimes, maybe even often, I’m embarrassed to admit, the answer is right in front of me. I’m living His will for me. And I’m doing things in ways that are pleasing to Him. Even as I have continue to ask Him His will!

I have often said, and for a very long time, ‘If you ask God a question, expect an answer.’ He IS talking to us. Every day. But we are not that great at listening. Or observing. Or understanding. Sometimes that’s because we’re too busy or we think that we know best. Or we just don’t really want to know.

Believe me, God knows our hearts and He knows when we’ve asked but don’t really want to know. He is not surprised when we don’t respond as He would have preferred. But He loves us anyway. And He is waiting for us to ask again. And maybe this is the time, we’ll really hear Him.

“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46: 11

Talk to God; then listen. I’ve never counted how many times Jesus went off to a quiet place by Himself in the Gospels, but it was often enough that I recall Him doing it. And He did it right up to the night of His Passion in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Look at what Jesus did and do that! I need to continue to follow that perfect Example. Jesus is so often speaking to the Father. You’ll be amazed at what you will do…with God guiding you. Rely on His strength, His wisdom, His endless love and mercy. You know in an earlier verse of that same Psalm, it is written, “God is our refuge…thus we do not fear.”

We can handle whatever comes because God is with us and within us. We need not fear when we’re doing His will. Let’s be still together right now. I’m praying for you!