Why did Jesus come to earth? Jesus said, “I am come that they [you] might have Life and that Life to the full!” (John 10:10) Jesus said He had come that our joy might be in Him and that our joy might be complete! (John 15:11) Jesus wanted us to have far more than a few grins and giggles interspersed throughout an earthly life of misery, while we wait for the joy of heaven. He wanted us to have His Joy now!
Most of us would say, “Alright! I like that! Bring on the joy!!” How do we get it? We receive it first by making a decision we want to be just like Jesus. Jesus was first and foremost our Perfect Example. It was as if God said, “Watch Him. This is how I want you to live!”
Is that really possible? We often shy away from the comparison of ourselves to Jesus. After all, He is perfect and we’re … well … not so perfect. Just in case anyone should notice our faults, we tell them first, “Don’t expect a lot of me. I’m not Jesus. I’m not perfect!” But Jesus said,
Be you perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect!
Matthew 5:48
How can we be perfect? See my previous post called “Follow Me!” In order to be like someone, we have to follow them step by step and act just like they do, all the time. We have to get in their skin, see the world as they do, say the words they say, and feel what they feel. We have to know them so well, we know what they would do in each and every situation. Do you know Jesus that well?
We say we have invited Jesus into our hearts. We acknowledge He is within us. However, sometimes we refuse to let Him speak from inside of us. I suggest a radical approach.
Read every Word Jesus said, as if you are saying it. In fact, say it out loud, so you can hear yourself saying it. Begin to memorize His Words and say them frequently. When you are standing in line at the grocery store or waiting at the stop light, see how many of His Words you can remember.
Jesus started His Ministry by reading aloud the Words from Scripture. If you wondered why you are on planet earth at this time, read those Words out loud and realize the Power of Jesus coming to Life inside of you to make those Words come true for you.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor!
Luke 4:18-19
When satan tries to trip you up, follow Jesus’ Example and draw the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) Do just as Jesus did in the desert. Tell satan,
IT IS WRITTEN …
and quote the Word of God.
But in order to have that sharp sword, you have to prepare ahead of time. There will be many occasions in life when you can’t run for your Bible. Plant the Word inside of you, so you can access it at any moment.
When you approach life this way, not only will you find peace for yourself, but you will find you have become the very Instrument of The Peace God envisioned for His World. You will begin to minister His Word to others. It may sound like your voice, but you will know it is He, Who is speaking from inside of you.
You will learn the true Wonder of God’s Creativity. It is really not about our getting into Jesus’ skin. It is about allowing Him to operate from the inside of us! God Himself came to earth and went inside a human Body in order that we might understand that He has done the same for us. He is occupying our human body and He wants to speak to the world.
Why would Jesus make the interesting statement, “I tell you the Truth, anyone, who has faith in Me, will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father!”
Even though God was everywhere, He was confining Himself to using the One and Only Body of Jesus. But Jesus was the Example of God’s Ultimate Plan to speak through the many people in different times and places, who would come after Jesus. That includes you!
Why not begin now? Jesus told us how God works.
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father,
and that the Father is in Me?
The Words I say to you are not just My Own.
It is the Father, living in Me, Who is doing His Work!
John 14:10
(Now read that again out loud, and hear yourself saying the Words!)
