Roots by the River

The last nine posts have been scriptures that require us to imitate God. The imitation requires an act of the will on our part. It may not be done by will-power. It requires our will, but not our power. The same goes for many commands that seem to be over the top. They require an 'aye, aye sir,' but not our power. The teaching in this post does not require an 'ayye, aye sir,' or any kind of power, ours or His. This is just so. It is already done. We can accept it and thank God. There is no obedience and no imitation involved. This is basic truth. “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:2b) “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (Romans 6:5-6) “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, ...

Concerning my last few posts, I would like to know which of you seriously would like to be more like Jesus. Do you think I could be of some help in this journey?   I do not wish to impart more knowledge of truth. I would like to teach how to 'obey everything Jesus commanded his apostles.' I do not think I have arrived. I am willing to be a pace setter.  

Do you want to be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect?   Do you want to be holy because He is holy?   If there is no desire for holiness it will not happen. St. Paul said it this way: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14) “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) “And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:10)

“Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved .” (1 Corinthians 10:32-38) “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Before we can imitate we must be close to the one we are imitating. In each of the eight clear examples study Jesus so much we cannot help imitating.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example , so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-28) “ Likewise , wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the impe...

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Even as I have loved you. We imitate Jesus in loving our brothers.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32-5:2) Be imitators of God just like children imitate their fathers. Just as God in Christ has forgiven you. Just as Christ loved you and gave Himself up for us. See how Jesus did and imitate Him.

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ʻYou shall be holy, for I am holy.ʼ” (1 Peter 1:14-16) But like the Holy one who called you, be holy in all you do for He is Holy. Just like the Lord Jesus in everything.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11) “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” We are told to imitate Jesus in an attitude which he had. He voluntarily made himself low, lower and lowest. Because of this he was elected to the highest place. Jesus said the same truth several times. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who hu...