Be Like Jesus (part 2)

Let's talk a little more about what it means to "be like Jesus."  
     

When my younger son, Joshua, turned 10, he became remarkably obedient to his mother and me. Both of my sons were always well-behaved, but this change in Josh was especially noticeable. What caused Joshua's behavior to improve so significantly? We didn't find out until years later when we heard Josh share his testimony. He said that around age 10, he decided that he loved us, his mommy and daddy, so much that he never wanted to hurt us by disobeying us! When I heard Josh say this, I almost fell out of my chair! What he expressed was every parent's dream: his obedience stemmed from love, not fear of consequences. 

     

But how does this relate to learning to be like Jesus? It’s everything! Jesus, who has experienced a lifetime of being loved by his Father, perfectly obeys his Father out of love for his Father. He says this in several places, but perhaps one of the clearest is found in John 14:31, "the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me." (NIV84).

     

Jesus expected His followers to live with the same love-prompted obedience. In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (HCSB). These words were spoken in the context of Jesus deeply loving his disciples for over three years. So, in a sense, Jesus is saying, "I have shown you how truly loved you are, and you have responded with love for me. Now let your love for me motivate your obedience to me."
     

Jesus again speaks about love and obedience in John 15:9-10 (HCSB): "As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love." Is Jesus saying here that he and/or the Father will stop loving the disciples if they don't keep his commandments? Not at all, but he is suggesting that love motivates obedience which then keeps us "within the range" of God's blessings.
     

I hope this is taking root in your heart. God is constantly pouring his love upon us, and he wants us to grasp that love so that we cannot help but respond with loving obedience. This is what my son, Josh, did. Josh didn't make that decision in a vacuum. He knew that he was deeply loved, treasured, respected, cared for, etc. Without meaning to boast, let me share some words from a poem Josh gave me years ago: "They were happy, well-behaved children who obeyed willingly one whom they knew could be trusted, one whom they did not fear... These two boys somehow knew that their father delighted in them and that he always had their best interest inmind."
     

How about you? Do you truly know that Abba, Father, loves you, delights in you and always has your best interest in mind? Does your obedience freely flow from your heart because you know that you are loved, or are you still trying to obey to earn his love? You cannot be like Jesus until you get this right! If we are to be like Jesus, it means that we press into his love more and more so that we never, ever doubt it! When we live in his love, experiencing it ever more fully in innumerable ways, we will indeed obey freely and fully, just like Jesus.
     
 Learning to live loved so that, in love, I will freely obey and become more like Jesus.

Tom, one of Abba's children