LIVING FOR GOD

Last week, we began a series of articles looking at our theme for 2010: “Living For God.” An acronym was giving for “Living” to encourage us in this: Lord, Imitation, Vigilant, Influence, Not ashamed, Growing. We discussed the first of these in the fact that we must accept Jesus as Lord and Ruler of our lives. We must submit our will to His in order to live for God. Today, we will consider imitation and vigilant.

IMITATION
Webster defines imitate as “to follow or endeavor to follow in action or manner.” If we are going to live for God we must decide to imitate Christ. Peter writes, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:” (1 Peter 2:21). Peter then goes on to give us a specific example of how we are to pattern our lives after Christ: His crucifixion. When He was mistreated, Christ did not return in kind. We must copy this in our lives.

We should also follow Jesus’ example in humility. In John 13:1-17, we read of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. Can you imagine the Son of God washing feet? That was a job for the lowest servant. It was the usual custom to have a servant available to wash the feet of your guests after they entered the house. No servant was available at this time. Why didn’t one of the disciples offer to wash everyone’s feet? Scripture does not tell us, but I think we can have a pretty good idea. Considering the discussions they had about greatness and being first in the kingdom, they probably thought foot washing was beneath them. Jesus displayed a great attitude of humility by doing it Himself. In verse 15 He says, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” He is not saying specifically that we are to wash one another’s feet, although we should if that is what is needed. He is telling them, and us, that we need to adopt an attitude of humility and service toward one another. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).

Finally, we should imitate Jesus’ desire to do the Father’s will. In the Garden of Gethsemane just before He was arrested, Jesus prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). He was willing to do whatever it took, even dying the horrible death on the cross, in order to do the Father’s will. Considering that, is anything the Father asks us to do really all that hard?

VIGILANT
We must be vigilant in resisting Satan and sin. 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan is constantly on the prowl looking for victims and we must always be watchful. The moment we let down our guard, there he is. The psalmist writes, I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me” (Psalm 39:1). We can slip so easily, not just with our words but in so many other ways. Be vigilant and ever watchful for the trickery and temptation of sin.

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13). Jesus admonishes us to be vigilant and watchful for His second coming. He compares His return to a thief in the night (Matthew 24:43-44). Since we do not know when He will return, we must be prepared at all times. It is through vigilance that we can do this.

Are you vigilant in your imitation of Christ?
--Lamar