Following The Example Before Us

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

 

John 5:19

Have you ever thought about a typical day in Jesus' life…  perhaps He might have had questions like these:

 

"Who am I going to heal today?"

 

"Who will I visit today?"

 

"Which person will I deliver from demons this day?"

 

The demands on Jesus' time were great and even so, we see that He allocated His time very deliberately. We don't get the idea that Jesus was flustered or stressed from the activity He was involved in. However He did often seek times of prayer and reflection away from the disciples.  All in all, He displayed a life that had a balance of quiet moments and active ministry in the lives He came in contact with.

How do we determine what we will be involved in each day of our lives?

 

What keeps us in sync with the will of the Father for the daily tasks He calls us to?

 

Jesus tells us that He was only involved in those things the Father was involved in—nothing more, nothing less. So often we determine our participation in work or an activity based on whether we have the time to do it or whether we desire to participate. The real question we should ask is, "Is this what God is leading me in?"

"God, should I add this Bible study to my calendar?

 

"Should I spend money on that venture?"

 

"Should I take on another assignment at work?"

 

"Should I engage in this form of a workout?"

 

"Should I take a trip?"

 

These are the daily challenges for the world we now live in. We are an activity-based society that often encourages more and more activity, often in the name of Christian virtue. Our lives will become less cluttered, less stressful, and more fulfilling when we follow the model Jesus provided. It may not always please everyone, but Jesus never sought to please everyone.

 

Ask God each day this week how you and He are to spend your time. Yield your schedule to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to direct your every activity. You may discover that He desires you to cut back some things in order to spend more time alone with Him. He will be faithful to show you as you engage in this practice in every area of your life. And you will find that you become more fulfilled because you are allowing the Holy Spirit to direct you and keep you in the centered God's will for you.