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1 John 2:6 NKJV “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
In the classic book by Charles Sheldon called “In His Steps,” the story centers around a congregation where the pastor asks the people to not do anything for a whole year without first asking “What would Jesus do?” The story goes on to show how the lives of the people are transformed as they begin living out the life of Jesus among their friends, family, and in their community.
That is the basic meaning of this verse in 1 John. To walk in biblical imagery is to live; so, walking as Jesus walked means living as Jesus lived.
My hope is that 2012 would be a year where we focus on the life and teachings of Jesus. But not so that we can simply know more information about Jesus (learning is good, but it isn’t the point); the point is transformation; the point is to grow in walking as Jesus walked.
Theology means nothing if it isn’t lived. It’s our actions that show what we really believe in. But it isn’t easy: it takes knowledge and sacrifice.
So, how did Jesus “walk,” and how can I start out 2012 walking like Him?
Take a few minutes to read the story of Jesus and the Woman at the Well; John 4:1-26.
Jesus’s Walk Displayed Kindness and Concern for Others
The passage reads: “He needed to go through Samaria.” He went out of his way to meet this troubled woman.
Sin is often a response to deeper issues going on in the heart (think of this before you rush to confront sin in other people). There are times to confront sin, and times to simply be there for someone. The kindness that Jesus shows disarms the hurt in the woman’s heart and sets her free from the powerful hold of sin in her life.
I’m so thankful for the kindness of Jesus! He could have come in anger, but instead he came to set me free! To give me hope, peace, and freedom from that which held me captive!
The best witness isn’t always confrontation; it’s love, it’s kindness; it’s not judging someone before you get to know their story. The best witness is the display of the fruit of the Spirit in your life.
When you love people, God opens the doors, and gives you the opportunity to speak into their life. But the doors won’t open unless the love of Christ is living in us and flowing through us.
Jesus’s Walk was Burden-Bearing Instead of Burden-Giving.
Jesus tells the woman: “Call your husband.” Jesus reaches her hurting place.
Jesus will eventually confront the areas of our lives that need to change, but instead of giving us the burden of changing, He takes the burden on himself and we can live through him!
This woman was filled with guilt, and the religion of her day had done nothing but pile it on more and more. Jesus took her guilt on himself, and gave her living water!
You are never too guilty for grace! The ground is level at the cross – all can come to the Savior who bears our burdens.
This changes everything about who we are – you can’t experience grace and then be the same.
The problem comes when we want to experience that grace but don’t want to live it out. Jesus brought the woman at the well to a decision, and she left her water jug behind.
Hallelujah! The cross has room for everyone!
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