Fence #3
Land surrounding Hearst Castle in California, taken by LinJane
"Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it."
Psalm 119:35
"walk just as He walked"
(I John 2:6)
autumn
winter
spring
summer
His very feast steps.
(John 7:14,37; 10:22; 13:1)
Recently the question was asked among a group of people "How are we to live?" as the topic of the Fruits of the Spirit was being discussed.
"This is how not to live" came the reply. And the list of all the what-not-to's were read: "adultery, fornication, uncleanness ... idolatry, sorcery, hatred ... jealousies ... selfish ambitions ..." Galatians 5:19-20.
Many of the characteristics that this world has to offer and that are, unfortunately, so familiar to us today. However, these only give us half the picture of what it means to live. (100% true, but only 50% Truth.)
How are we to live?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
But the fruit of the tree is apple, orange, banana, coconut, cherry, fig.
But how are we to eat it?
The attributes of the tree are beneficial, but if we don't know what to do with them then the benefits are mute.
Similarly, the marks of the Spirit are wholesome and lends to a profitable end, but if we are ignorant in how to live them out in a practical way then what good are they but decorations on a temple?
How are we to live?
God's Word states it clearly...
"walk just as He walked" (I John 2:6)
Who's "He"?
Jesus (Yeshua). And the only way for you and I to know the *who* and the *how* is to *do* what He says to do. When I do what He says to do God's Word says...
"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."I John 2:3
How did He "walk"?
"though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience..."
(Hebrews 5:8)
Jesus walked in obedience...perfectly.
"and having been perfected..."
(verse 9)
What was Jesus being obedient to?
To His Father's voice...
"Therefore you shall obey the voice of the Lord your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today." (Deuteronomy 27:10)
He was all about His "Father's business" (Luke 2:49), and He walked out His Father's business perfectly. Thus, was the spotless Lamb of God (I Peter 1:19).
Back in the day when I was under the guidance of my own parents we attended a church where I learned about the Ten Commandments in Sunday School. These were days that stories were told with felt boards and puppets. Remember?
Today these commandments are but a vintage thought left on a dusty fence as a law that's been deemed done with...forgotten...put away...but never abolished; no, because, alas, Jesus said it himself that He did not come to "destroy the Law or the Prophets...but to fulfill." What's the difference? The difference is in the two verses that follow in Matthew chapter 5 verses 18 and 19 that seemed to have been nestled in to the dust for the rest of time. Why is that?
There are way too many times we wonder why we are facing defeat in life; our marriage is crumbling, our friendships are dwindling, our health is deteriorating, our spiritual walk is a constant fumble; and we find ourselves asking God to come to our rescue and "make it better, stronger, more meaningful", but yet there is a screaming silence, or worse, a variety of confusing voices that are indiscernible. Though we seek, and we ask, we can't seem to find; because we're not searching in the right direction? Perhaps we're not asking the right questions? Quite possibly we're hung up on our own traditions and the age old response "because that's what I've been taught my whole life" unwilling to turn over yet another stone of remembrance that our ancient descendant (Joshua) set up for us to ask "what did you mean by that?".
I'm committed to getting off that dusty, old, vintage fencing of rusty ignorance, rebellion, and pride and onto the fresh pasture that line the footsteps of Jesus in order to move forward in overcoming defeat in my life. Why? Because I can, because I am His sheep who hear His voice, and because I desire to walk just as He walked.
How about you?
Remembering who I am...
Cindy
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