Following in Jesus' footsteps    Photo:  ©  Lightstock.com

Following In Jesus' Footsteps

Examination of the Gospel accounts shows Jesus as a Jewish rabbi modelling the kind of life and ministry he wanted his disciples to display after his ascension back to heaven.

•  THE PRIMARY CALL is to love God [DEUTERONOMY 6:4-5] to spend time with him and just be with him. [See WALKING WITH JESUS.]

•  IF I LOVE JESUS, I WILL BE WHERE HE IS & DO WHAT HE TELLS ME TO DO
   Jesus constantly said he did only what the Father gave him to do and said only  what the Father gave him to say (JOHN 5:19-20; 5:30; 8:28-30; 12:49-50; 14:31)

•  GOD'S THE BOSS  -   he tells us what to do; we don't give him orders.

•  WE NEED TO SPEND TIME IN GOD'S PRESENCE each day, listening to what He is saying in Bible reading, prayer and meditation (sometimes with fasting), talking to him and praising & worshipping him for his love and faithfulness. [WALKING WITH JESUS]

•  ALL MINISTRY FLOWS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MINISTRY TO US.
    [See ABIDING IN CHRIST.]

•  ALL MINISTRY FLOWS FROM GOD'S HEART OF LOVE for a world suffering the  effects of satan's domination and human rebellion.

That's why Jesus said the  disciples' love would be demonstrated by their obedience to his command to love others. [JOHN 15:10-17] [SHARING CHRIST'S PASSION]

•  THE SERVANT IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER, who humbled himself and made himself the servant of all, even being willing to die for us on a cross. Our attitude, Paul says, should be the same as Jesus' (PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11)     
[See THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.]

•  JESUS WARNED US TO BE WISE AS SERPENTS (archetypically cunning) and AS HARMLESS AS DOVES (symbols of peace & gentleness)         
    [See DISCERNMENT and HOW TO AVOID BEING DECEIVED.]

•  THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH & GIVE US THE POWER &  AUTHORITY to do the works of Jesus [JOHN 16:13-15; LUKE 24:44-49; ACTS 1:8]. [See THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.]