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Imitate Jesus Christ - Why & How? Luke 6:40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly instructed will be like his teacher 1. How can we imitate Jehovah God? Well, it isn't easy in this world of satan and it isn't easy because we are 'fallen' from the perfection to which we were born through Adamic sin. We can't even look at God so how can we know how to imitate Him? 1Timothy 1:17 Now to the King of eternity, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. How can we know what He is like to copy Him? Well, we can look to Jesus. John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him. Jesus example is a beautiful reflection of His Father. How did Jesus reflect Jehovah? By his tender compassion, commendation and loving empathy toward people. Jesus is such a wonderful example of how Jah feels about us. What a privilege it is to be able to reflect Jehovah by our own example. Jesus' attributes show us just how loving God is toward us. 2. Safeguard ourselves by imitating Jesus. Jesus was very concerned for all his disciples, then and now, after the time that he was gone from the world as a human being. John 17:11 “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one We too can show this same loving concern for those around us. Not just our loved ones but to strangers and those we meet in every day situations. It doesn't cost us anything. In fact, we would gain much in God's eyes. Luke 6:32-36 “If you love those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. And if you do good to those doing good to you, of what credit is it to you? Even the sinners do the same. Also, if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, of what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend to sinners so that they may get back as much. On the contrary, continue to love your enemies and to do good and to lend without hoping for anything back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked. Continue being merciful, just as your Father is merciful We can also imitate Jesus in prayers to God. Not just once a day or when we think of it or when we have troubles, but right through each day. Prayer, supplication and petition. Not just on our own behalf but in behalf of others. Our loved ones, those we maybe don't like so much and even perfect strangers that we may have spoken to or even just noticed in our daily lives. Also, It is very hard to stay angry at someone after we have offered prayers in their behalf so don't forget to pray for those hating us or who are mad at us. Hebrews 5: 7 During his life on earth, Christ offered up supplications and also petitions, with strong outcries and tears, to the One who was able to save him out of death, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear. So, we too can be favourably heard. John 16:33 I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.” We too can take courage and with Jah's help we can also 'conquer the world'. Certainly not to the extent that Jesus has but we can daily make decisions that put God first above the 'cares of the world'. Such simple things as: do we really need that extra pair of shoes, do I really need to buy junk food when it is not healthy for me, should I really be looking at this porn site, could I help that lady carry those heavy bags, can I contain my exasperation at this slow checkout girl etc......there are so many ways. Of course, importantly,....can I really not make time to study God's word and do some research, can I really not take the time to pray and supplicate God on behalf of others, I really can pass over my tiredness to get to Meeting on time. 3. Great joy and happiness. Jesus didn't just speak to people to 'hear the sound of his own voice' as the saying goes. He wanted us to learn and to understand the lessons he was imparting. If therefore, we imitate Jesus in his love for Jah then our days can, even in this harsh world, be joyful. How happy our Leader, Christ Jesus, must be to observe from heaven how the preaching work that he started is being carried out in ever more regions of the earth! Yes, for all of God’s people, it is a heartfelt joy to offer themselves willingly to carry out Jesus’ command. Matthew 28:19+20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things. When have you seen what you would describe as joyful people? We see happy people, sure, but true joy is a God given gift and that joy comes from God Himself. By following Him and copy His 's example we really can have true joy in our lives, now and in the future. John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be made full The Apostles, in the Book of Acts, show us just what it means to be hated by the nations and to be joyful for it. They gave us many examples of the joy God gives. Luke 6:22+23 “Happy are you whenever men hate you, and when they exclude you and reproach you and denounce your name as wicked for the sake of the of man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for look! your reward is great in heaven, for those are the same things their forefathers used to do to the prophets. How often have you tried to give advice to someone and had it spurned or even had it backfire on the person who tried the advice. Sometimes things all work out ok but more often than not, this world just confuses and bamboozles us. How much more useful would it be to give Godly advice. Advice straight from God's Word instead of advice based on our own thinking or on our experiences in this world. 2Corinthians 1:12 For the thing we boast of is this, our conscience bears witness that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but with God’s undeserved kindness. 4. Attract others to the Truth of God's Word. It is quite easy to be kind to others....sometimes more easy than other times, but we can all persevere and imitate Jesus in this. We want to understand Jesus' attributes and copy them as closely as possible on every occasion so that our light beams. Matthew 5:16 Likewise, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens What was Jesus personality like? He was kind, joyous, non-judgemental and mild-mannered. He attracted people to himself simply because of his demeanour and not just his good looks or his teaching work. Are we not also attracted to kind and loving persons? Yes, we are. How much better it is to attract those yearning for God's Truths in their lives with the attractiveness demonstrated by imitating the qualities of Jesus. Malachi 3:18 And you will again see the distinction between a righteous person and a wicked person, between one serving God and one not serving him.” Many people in this world are said to be kind, nice or good but are they serving God? See for yourselves the difference between good and bad. Be the difference between good and bad. Good is extremely unusual in this satan ruled world. 5. There is only one way to gain everlasting life. Exercising faith is more than talk. It involves understanding the lesson Jesus gave us and understanding the principles involved and what God's standards are. It involves carry forward in our lives fulfilling those principles and standards. John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes the and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day.” Before we can imitate Jesus we need to know his attributes very well. Therefore we will understand God's attributes, His principles and His standards. We cannot follow what we do not know and we cannot teach what we do not know. We do not want to be running in vain. Philippians 2:14-16 Keep doing all things free from murmuring and arguments, so that you may come to be blameless and innocent, of God without a blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as illuminators in the world, keeping a tight grip on the word of life. Then I may have reason for rejoicing in Christ’s day, knowing that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain. We want to, need to, follow Jesus correctly - intently - closely. Distractions from this world of satan can easily distract us and cause us to loose sight of Jesus. Never may that happen. Hebrew 12:1-6 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such hostile speech from sinners against their own interests, so that you may not get tired and give up. In your struggle against that sin, you have never yet resisted to the point of having your blood shed. And you have entirely forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My , do not belittle the discipline from Jehovah, nor give up when you are corrected by him; for those whom Jehovah loves he disciplines, in fact, he scourges everyone whom he receives as a .” We need to cling to the Truth of Jesus and not in preconceived ideas or conveniences. He, as King of God's Kingdom, is the one that can teach us. He is the one we want to follow closely. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I sure hope you have enjoyed this lesson. I have taken it from the notes I took of the first lesson on the first day of our three day Convention which I was able to attend down in Brisbane recently. Such a joyful weekend and it was lovely to meet Brothers and Sisters from different Congregations. Love, Katidid. |
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