Consider this question: What is it that defines me? Before I answer this, under the light of the Holy Spirit, let us apply the question to Jesus in His earthly walk. What was it that defined Him?
John 7 records an annual Feast of Tabernacles. Here we find Jesus teaching at the temple. The people marvelled at His knowledge and authority with which He taught, because they knew He had not been through the Jewish education system of that time. Jesus declared, (John 7:16 – 18), “…My doctrine is not mine, but him that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory, but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him”.
This is what defined Jesus: He always chose His Father’s will above His own. He always sought to give His Father the glory, the credit, for all the works Jesus did. His final choice and surrender was in the agony of that decision He made in the Garden of Gethsemane. “Nevertheless, not my will be done, but thine…”, as He submitted to the cruel and vicious crucifixion at the hands of the mocking soldiers and crowd, He purchased our salvation and fulfilled His Father’s will for divine purpose.
Jesus was so one with His Father that He only ever spoke the words His Father gave Him. John 6:38, Jesus said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me”.
Again, in John 8:29, Jesus declared, “He that sent me is with me……for I do always those things that please him”. (May this be our daily prayer.)
These scriptures define Jesus, our Pattern Man. 1 John 4:17 “…..as he is, so are we in this world”. Scripture leaves us without excuse, but encourages, not condemns us. Everything has been completed from God’s side at Calvary. The choice is ours to surrender our will to walk in it and discover all the fullness of our inheritance in Christ.
Jesus said, John 12:24: “Verily, I say unto you, Unless a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but if it die, it brings forth much fruit”. When I surrender my will to others, to the Lord in daily situations, it is a daily dying to self that produces the glorious life of Jesus in me. Simply: I die (to self, my will), that He might live through me. Christ in me, the hope of glory….hallelujah! This is where the fruit grows. Out of death, (my surrendered will), comes life, the life of God. Jesus said that every tree is known by its fruit, (Luke 6:44). A man walking with God displays fruit in his life. This is a good test plate, always look for the fruit. A tree rooted in good ground with the right environment, produces good fruit naturally. The tree does not admire itself and boast in its fruit, it surrenders its fruit to others to enjoy. Spiritual fruit is a gift for the Body of Christ, and is given of God to be shared, otherwise it will rot on the tree!
So, let us return to our first question: What is it that defines me? Is it my love for God, or His love for me? The greater includes the lesser, but get the order right. 1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he FIRST loved us”. His love for me, defines me, not my love for him. Jesus’ words and acts defined Him with the humility of a surrendered will. I don’t want to be defined by the “wants” of a carnal nature, but by the fragrance of Jesus in a surrendered life, bringing glory to the Father. It is offered to me and you. It is our birthright in Christ – fullness. Every day is bristling with opportunities of choice to embrace or refuse it, to produce fruit to His glory.
Jesus declared, (another test plate of fruit) “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” John 13:35
Choose ye, this day, whom you will serve……Our Heavenly Father or self. More plainly, God or the devil! A daily choice. When I make the right choice, I discover, like David, that I delight to do His will. The will of God is not grievous to me, but sweet, joyous and peaceful……and completely independent of the circumstance. Peace in the storm….but the Master calms the storm. Do you know the Master of the storm? Really know Him? To know Him is to love Him ……and the tree will be known by its fruit.
