Our Model for Christian Living

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15

The message to First Century Hebrew Christians was precise and direct: Let Jesus Christ be your motivation to love righteousness and to hate iniquity. In our present century our spiritual obligations and responsibilities are no different. The character and attributes of Jesus, the eternal Son, have not changed and will not change.

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above

your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy" (Hebrews 1:8–9).

There is a tendency for people to relegate everything in the realm of righteousness or iniquity to deity, whatever their concept of deity may be. For the true Christian, however, our risen Lord made a promise to us before His death and resurrection. That promise effectively removes our excuses and makes us responsible:

When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you (John 16:13–15).

I will readily admit that we are not God. We cannot do in ourselves what God can do. But God created us as human beings, and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit and His presence in our lives, we should be able to do what Jesus, the Son of Man, was able to do in His earthly ministry.

Thought: Christ did not set an example for us without providing enablement for us to follow that example.The indwelling Holy Spirit is that enablement. Let's appropriate that empowerment today!

By A.W. Tozer

Beginning to End: Isaiah 45-48
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 72-73 & Romans 9:16-33
Historical: Job 6-9
Chronological: Jeremiah 1-3
Blended: Psalm 72-73 & Acts 26

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible