Walking as Jesus walked.

Recently I read through 1st 2nd and 3rd John and wanted to share with you what I have been learning. I’ve been wrestling with this verse…it’s convicted me in so many ways. I’ve been wrestling with some hard questions that have come out of my time with Jesus every morning. I challenge you to read through these books. They are short, but they are filled with some really good stuff. Especially 1st John. Read through them and let God speak to you. Let Him challenge you. Ask the hard questions and then don’t be afraid of the answers. Jesus longs to speak to us and when we ask for Him to show up, to teach us things, to remind us of things, He will.
The following is something that I wrote in my journal a couple weeks ago. I debated quite a bit on whether or not to put this up here, but I think one of the ways that we can continue to learn and grow is through being transparent and vulnerable with one another.
So here’s what my Jesus has been reminding me of lately.

Today as I read my bible out on the back steps I felt you speak to me. I was reading in 1st John 2 where it’s talking about knowing you and being made complete in you. It’s a really good chapter in a really good book, but the part that stood out to me the most was a very simple yet very powerful sentence. 1st John 2:6 says: “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” This verse has been on my heart a lot today. I can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s such a high standard, but it’s what we’ve been called to. Those 11 words are so simple yet mean so much. “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” That seems so impossible at times.
While thinking about this verse today, I’ve felt very convicted. I felt convicted because I know for a fact that there are many times during my day that I don’t live up to that standard.
I feel like a lot of times we live up to the minimal standard that we think is ok-we do what we have to do to get by without feeling guilty, but aren’t constantly thinking about being your hands and feet like you have clearly called us to be. We’re too caught up in ourselves and we’re too caught up in what we think other people will think about us. We are worried about our self image, when in reality people shouldn’t see us when they look at us anyway. They should see you through us. We create such busyness all around us that we then don’t have time for you, and we don’t have time for others. We don’t put you as first priority in our lives like you have asked us to. We’re so caught up in everything around us that we miss what’s right in front of us. We forget that serving others is not always convenient. It doesn’t always just “fit in.” We have to MAKE an effort. We have to CREATE time. We have to TAKE the many, many opportunities that you give us throughout our day.

"Following you isn’t something that can be done only part way or halfheartedly. It cannot come after everything else. It’s not a label we can display when it’s useful. It must be central to everything we do and everything we are." It should simply be who we are.
What gets me is that we pretend it’s ok. We pretend it’s ok to love, give and serve to the minimum. We pretend it’s ok and we pretend you think it’s ok. Maybe we do it without thinking-maybe a lot of it is subconscious, but then that begs the question: do we think about it enough? Looking at my life, no I do not.

Living like you lived, loving like you loved, serving like you served, and giving like you gave, is a goal that can never be completely reached, but I say I’m striving towards it. Am I truly? Am I striving towards it simply with words, or am I backing it up with actions like I should be? Part time is not enough. Only when it’s convenient is not enough. Only when I want to is simply not enough. I feel like sometimes I’m reaching for You with one hand, but pushing you away with the other.

Am I willing to give up everything for you?
To sacrifice my time, money, convenience, safety and comfort? I pray that I am. I know that I want to be.
Father, I’m begging you for your help. I have to have your help-I know I cannot possibly do that on my own apart from you. Living the lifestyle that you have called your children to at times may go against everything my flesh desires. It goes against everything our culture tells us. It goes against the lies that are thrown at us constantly. It goes against everything this world tries to instill in us, but you have called us as believers to live in the world, but not be of it. To be a light in the darkness around us. To stand out. To make a difference.
Jesus, I’m done making excuses and rationalizing laziness. I’m ready to start taking this seriously. I’m ready to change some things. I know I will never get there completely, but I’m ready to try. Truly try, and keep trying. I’m ready to legitimately give it my best and truly strive to be more like you.

You were the ultimate example of what it means to truly serve.
You are blameless and pure. You are without fault. You are Holy and righteous. You are perfect.
I know that we can never fully attain this, but I also know you have called us to try.
This verse tells us to walk as you walked. I don’t think that’s the same thing as telling us to be perfect-you know we never will be or could be. We’re people and people mess up. I think it simply means doing our best. It means truly having the desire and motivation to become more like you. It’s a decision we have to make each and every day. It’s not a one time thing. It means picking up our cross daily. It means asking for forgiveness when we screw up. It means not taking advantage of your grace. It means having an open mind and heart. It means doing our best to follow you passionately. With everything we have-everything we are. With reckless abandon. It means to forgive always. To love unconditionally, give constantly, and serve endlessly. It simply means learning how to live with open hands.
Jesus, I’m begging you to break my heart with what breaks yours. Give me a glimpse of the people in this world through your eyes. Father, show me how to love.