We should strive to be like Christ each day and that points us forward.

“¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Paul looked forward to the goal. He knew that whatever was in the past, was just that, in the past. He was sure to let us know that he was not perfect, however he was doing his best to follow Christ at every turn. He was still a sinner, and that he could not escape, but he pressed onward to be more like Christ each day.

We are to use Paul’s example in our lives. We are not perfect and will never be. We do however have the same opportunity of pressing forward. We even have an example of how to overcome and press on, Paul.

“¹⁷Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” – Philippians 3:17 (ESV)

We are to pay close attention to those that are looking forward as the example of how to press on. Paul is a good one in that his life was filled with adversity for Christ, yet, he continued to provide encouragement and example for all.

We are to take the approach of Paul:

“¹So I exhort to the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ²shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” – 1Peter 5:1-3 (ESV)

Where are you looking, past or future? What example are you following? What example are you being? Are you being the example of looking forward?

When studying God’s Word, I, like I am sure most of you, focus on the actions we should take and forget the examples of what not to do. This morning I read in 1 Corinthians 10 and the title of the passage is:

Warning Against Idolatry (ESV)

Warnings From Israel’s History (NIV)

Either version you read, the message is the same, warnings of what not to do.

I also seem to recall a set of items that give us instruction into how to follow God, I am sure you have heard of them: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. Nine of the ten are what not to do.

What NOT to do, what a concept. I have difficulty with understanding why folks do not follow rules and are constantly looking for ways to go around the law to accomplish their desires. We have been told not to, but we continue to ignore the warnings of the consequences. We are somehow “above” being held accountable for our actions. Paul gives us the reminder of the consequences of the actions that were against God, and then;

“¹¹Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11 (ESV)

Look at those words; “written down for our instruction”. We are to remember the consequences and heed the warnings against the actions that lead to those consequences.

God knows that this world is not easy and that being a child of God is doubly difficult. Paul’s encouragement is here as well;

“¹³No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

We are man and we will have difficulty, however God will not allow us to be there without instruction. He has provided us the needed instruction; whether it is what TO do or NOT to do.

Are you heeding the warnings and instructions? All of them? What examples are you putting at the forefront, what TO do as well as what NOT to do?

How many of us used to dress up like our parents, “idol”, mentor, or just someone or something that we wanted to be? You know that we have the ultimate example, Jesus, already available to emulate?

“¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” – John 13:14-15 (ESV)

I remember looking back when I was younger, ok much younger, and walking up to home plate at baseball practice and taking the stance of the players I watched on TV. I remember in one of the “Bad News Bears” movies where a pitcher was always trying to pitch “like” one of the pro pitchers he admired. In both instances, success for us was minimal. We were too caught up in being the other person that we missed out on the true emulation that would lead to success.

Success does not come from emulating the example of physical actions, but from the heart of the actions. What is beneath the surface is the example of how and why we act. The action of the batting “like” or pitching “like” someone was not how success would come. The success comes from the work you put in. That part that not many people see. The greatest of the pro athletes, whereas they did have immense talent for the game, put in the work behind the scenes. Nolan Ryan worked tirelessly in the weight room on his legs for a skill that required his arms. Michael Jordan was in the gym shooting more than any of us know. Ozzie Smith threw baseball over the house and ran to the other side to try and catch them as a youth.

We may look at the actions of Jesus and ourselves “wash a few feet” and expect that we are somehow being like him, and whereas that is a nice start, it is the tireless work that we do for him that really drives home the example. Jesus, put in the work for us each day and we should be doing the same. The one action that “all” sees is not the point, it is what is in our heart and the daily work we put in without the fanfare that really is the example.

Will we work at these items as the example of what is in our heart? Are you caught up trying to “wash feet” to show others, or are you just putting in the work and letting your servanthood just be done? Are you using Jesus as your example?

I know that there are times when I feel as though God has left me and the struggle of life is overwhelming. It is difficult finding the joy when the separation feeling that comes on.

“³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” – Romans 8:35 (ESV)

Notice the question format of the verse above. Paul is putting them out there and then follows with verse 36 to show that we are indeed persecuted by the world as we follow Christ.

“³⁶As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’” – Romans 8:36 (ESV)

So, I have to remember that the struggle of life is real and God is allowing it to happen. We are to embrace that struggle.

But really. Why? When times are the toughest, why does God not just pick us up and protect us from the difficulty instead of allowing us to struggle with this life? Why can’t He just make it all go away? Look back at the words Paul reminds us of “For your sake…” We have been living as predicted.

Paul finishes up this passage with his reminder to us that even though things are tough, we are never separated from God.

“³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, or angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

No matter how bad things are or may be or will be, God’s love is always there to lean on. We are going to be tested, persecuted, and struggle with life, but God never leaves us. We are never separated from HIS LOVE.

When you are struggling, where are you leaning? What direction do you turn for support? Do you know that you are going to make it? Are you able to find solace in the FACT that God’s love is always there?

“²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Notice in the verse above, “those who” is used twice. There is no nationality, no cultural denotation, no color, no religion, only love for God that identifies us. Talk about diversity and inclusion. All we have to do is love God and we are in. I am all for that.

Here’s where it gets a little tough, we are to love as God loves and that means accepting everyone as God accepts everyone. It may seem like an easy thing, but I will admit that there are people in this world that are hard to love (I am sure you are aware of a few). Those that persecute us, murderers, those that believe differently than us, and those that live a different lifestyle than we do all cloud our judgement of who and how to love.

And yet see here:

“²⁵As indeed he says in Hosea, ‘Those who were not my people I will call “my people,” and her who was not beloved I will call “beloved.” ²⁶And in the very place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” there they will be called “sons of the living God.”’” – Romans 9:25-26 (ESV)

God loves all and his love is for all. We are afforded love from God and therefore aren’t we to be the example of God here. We have the obligation to be the example of God’s love and what better example than showing his love for ALL.

Where is your heart when you are confronted by those that challenge your ability to provide love? Are you able to love in the example of God? If we are not able to love, what right do we have to God’s love? Aren’t we a part of the ALL?

We are in a place that can only be covered by love, and God provides that love for us.

“⁵and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ⁶For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” – Romans 5:5-6 (ESV)

I am amazed every time that I read God’s Word as he teaches me or reminds me of something each time I sit down with Him. You see in the verses above that God’s love is for all, through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus died as a demonstration of that love.

What a great love it is that the Trinity is involved. We are blessed to have God in our lives and providing for us. But it was not just a one-time present. Yes, Jesus died once, but the Holy Spirit continues to pour that love into our hearts daily. And God is always there to continue filling up the bucket of love so that it never, and I mean never, runs out. You see, God gives us what (love), when we need it (the right time).

“¹³…but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

No matter what else God can give to us, we should remember that the greatest gift he provides for us is love. We are to store it away in our hearts and show it to everyone.

When you are working your way through life, how much are you thinking of the love God has for you? Are we able to abide in that love and show it to everyone? Are we understanding that God gives, the Holy Spirit pours it in us, and Jesus demonstrated love?

I read this morning about Jesus and Peter. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, three times and Peter stays steady each time with his answer.

“¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lamb.’ ¹⁶He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ ¹⁷He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” – John 21:15-17 (ESV)

When you are asked something multiple times, how are you feeling/reacting to those questions? I know that for me, I feel as though maybe the one asking knows something that I do not. Looking at this exchange with Jesus and Peter, we know that Jesus knows all and certainly more than Peter, however he is not trying to trip Peter up. He is asking Peter to dig into his heart for the true answer.

In the verses above, Jesus wanted Peter to be sure about the love he had for him. First, did he love Jesus more than the others around them? (ESV Commentary) Second, he asked Peter to confirm the love he had was indeed the depth he proclaimed (are you as sure of yourself the second time as you are the first?). The third time, Jesus asks if Peter is indeed his friend (NIV Commentary).

Peter was grieved after the third time, not angry or questioning of Jesus, but grieved. When we declare to love God, how deep is that love? Do we have the same answer after three times asking as we do after the first? When Peter had to give thought to his love of Jesus, he realized his devotion. His love was deep in his heart and would spill out as he moved forward as the evangelist as opposed to fisherman (NIV Commentary).

I ask myself the following questions: Have you realized the depth of your love for God? When asked, is your answer the same after the third time? How does your life change understanding the depth of your love for God?

We are loved by God. We are in God’s love. We are provided by God’s love.

“¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” – John 15:16 (ESV)

You can see that we are children of God because he picked us. We were chosen to be his. There a responsibility that comes with God’s choice of us. We should be obeying and working for God and those actions allow us to ask for needs and Gods will give them to us.

It may be hard to believe that God chose each one of us. He has given the gift of salvation to us by choice and all we have to do is accept. Once we have accepted the gift, we have been made heirs to the rewards of heaven. Once we are heirs, we then have the responsibility to act as heirs in the manner of God.

God’s love is for us and we have only to accept it. He chose us to have his gift and in repayment he only asks of us the below:

“⁹As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” – John 15:9 (ESV)

We are to take solace in God’s love. We are to love as he loves. We are to be the example of God here for others to see.

When you are in the world, are you bearing fruit? Have you accepted the gift of salvation that God has given to us? Are you working to live out God’s love?

When I just quickly think of the word provide, I am drawn to a physical need being met. That may be the case, however providing may be more abstract than that. Look here at the definition of provide in the English Language Learners Dictionary:

Provide: to supply what is needed for someone to live (http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/provide)

As I study, this morning, God has taken me to verses 15 and 14 of John chapter 14. I am sure that I have a number of typographical errors as I write, however this time I meant to place the verses in that order.

“¹⁵If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁴If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” – John 15:15 & 14 (ESV)

For me, reading the verses in this order define more clearly how it is that God will provide for our needs. If you will read on, I will explain my reasoning as to how and why it makes sense to me this way.

You see, I have to be invested in order to follow. Whether in my personal life, work life, spiritual life, or any other situation, without investment in something, I have little if any desire to stick with it. That investment is what drives us to continue and when we continue we are driven to be the best you can at it to be successful. When you stick with it, make it successful, you are rewarded.

God’s love drives should be driving us to stick with him and make him successful. The way that happens is for us to “keep” his “commandments”. When we keep the commandments of God and then ask him to provide for us, he will not disappoint.

I refer back to how I started this morning. When we think of providing, I am immediately drawn to the physical, but you can see that even in the definition, there is only reference to needs. It is we that think physical when what God provides for us to live is, in many cases, more than the physical.

God provides for us. We are tasked with obeying God and doing his commandments, also known as obeying his will. When we are obeying, God rewards us by granting the requests for help with those needs that arise.

When you think about the needs you have, do you start with looking at whether or not you have been obeying? Where can you be sure to know what actions you are to be taking are in accordance with God’s will? We demonstrate our love for God by obeying, are you? When you do ask God to provide, are you looking at the physical need, or are you looking for God’s answers to be bigger and more abstract? Are we loving to receive what God provides?

I am a fan of sports and our boys have played since a very young age. On each team you can see who the leader is and it is likely not the coach or manager. Sure, they run the team, but when it comes to leading, there is another that drives.

We have leaders in life as well and our actions demonstrate who it is that we are following.

“³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 (ESV)

Check out the verses above to see how others will know who we follow. Our acts of love are a huge sign that we follow someone greater than this world.

Think of some of the public figures that we see in the world; celebrities, athletes, music and film artists, and politicians. There are many that are constantly in the spotlight for their actions. These actions really show who they are and where there allegiances are. There are a few that I think of immediately that show that they follow God, and it is pretty glaring and awesome.

We are in a position of visibility each day and have an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love as we walk in this world. We are responsible for the presentation of God to the world as we “make disciples”. What a better way to present God than showing we follow him with our presentation of God’s love.

Does the world know who you follow? Are your actions speaking louder than your words? Are you presenting God through the presentation of God’s love?