Can We Be The Example of Love, Compassion, and Kindness? (page 2)

Jesus is Our Example to Follow

Are you a follower of Christ? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? What is required of followers?

"The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." John 17:22-24

Jesus is asking us, He is calling us, and He is equipping us to be His example in the earth and to be the ministry of reconciliation. God is reconciling man (the sinner) to Himself in Grace and through us.

"namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19

But there's more. We know that Jesus is our example. He came to show us the way to salvation and eternal life. Jesus knows what it is to be "human" and He has equipped us to fulfill our destiny in Christ.

We've received the grace and mercy of God through Christ so that we can be sent, too!

"I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

We are saved, justified, healed, reconciled, and then SENT in His name and in His authority, to finish His mission.

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13

What if Jesus Had Not Been Obedient?

Jesus was sent by the Father to pay the price that we could not pay, and He willingly paid for the sin of the whole world through His obedience. In Jesus' obedience to the point of death, He conquered death once and for all, for ALL.

"For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:5

When Jesus' little body was being knitted together in Mary's mother's womb He was the eternal Son of God, chosen before the foundations of the universe were laid to fulfill prophesy and God's eternal purpose. The word said that we too were known by God before we were formed in our mother's womb.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:16-18

Jesus became the Seed of the woman to crush the serpent's head and redeem Adam's fallen race. He took our place and He paid our price. Then He sent us to finish the job. Are you willing?

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions." Colossians 1:24

This is what we know. Jesus shed His blood to cancel the penalty of guilt for our crimes. “We have now been justified by his blood” (Romans 5:9). But canceling our sins is not the same as declaring us righteous. Jesus also gave us His righteousness, meaning whenever God looks upon us, He sees Jesus.

My hope before God is found in His Word and His Promises to me and to you too, “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:9).

The Word assures us that Jesus fulfilled everything regarding righteousness and He reckoned it mine, and yours, when we place our trust in Him. Jesus' death and resurrection, victory over death, became the basis for our pardon and our perfection, both yours and mine. Now, are we willing to share the good news with the world?

"I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

In the end, the Spirit of God won, and despite the suffering and the shame, Jesus took on the sufferings of all people so we would know the love of the Father, which is more than anyone could imagine!

Now that we have this gift, this assurance of love, God wants us to share this love and be His testimony to the world, thus reconciling the world to Himself.

Jesus willingly suffered so that we might have the love of the Father, for all of eternity, even when we didn’t deserve it. He then gave us this authority and sent us forth to fulfill the mission.

The question is, are you willing to serve God's mission through Christ? Are you willing to sacrifice and suffer for others, in love?

We know Jesus willingly suffered and died for those who would let Him down. But why must it happen this way? Again, why all the suffering?

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:1-5

Intuitively, we know that suffering has to happen in order to grow. We also know we need to cancel the legal demands of the law of sin which has been against all of us since the fall of man.

In regard to salvation and redemption, Billy Graham stated, “there is only salvation by canceling records!” Jesus canceled our record, and the point is, if we are forgiven how can we not freely forgive others, ALL OTHERS.

Please keep your eyes open for the next article in this series... "Why Suffering, Why Does It Have to Be This Way?"