Tag: glory of the Lord

Imitators of God

“For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Psalms 85:13  Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

Psalms 89:14     Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Isaiah 58:8     Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Psalms 119:35     Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

John 13:14     If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Ephesians 5:1    Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Hebrews 12:1    Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

1 John 2:6    whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of the throne of God.  Steadfast love and faithfulness shine  a light on the path our live should follow.  Jesus walked this side of heaven teaching with His word and also as an example of humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God the heavenly Father.  Paul said we ought to imitators of God, walking in love and setting aside every sin that clings so closely to us.  We are to live like this with a heart desire and endurance.  In Psalms David requested to be led on a path that followed God’s statues and commands.  There is a choice required in our heart, mind and soul to seek and know God.  This same choice desires to be led on paths that honor and glorify Him.  Each day we have a choice to commit to following Him or be complacent.  We have a choice to know Him more and more each day or neglect His word.  To be imitators of God and be a light in the darkness, time in His word with desire to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him are essential.

I must decrease

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.”

“A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Malachi 3:1  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

Mark 1:2  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,  the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’

Luke 7:26  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’  I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

John 3:28  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Acts 13:24-25    Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.  And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

There was a 400 year gap between the last prophet and the coming of Christ.  God sent a messenger to prepare the way and His name was John.  John preached repentance in line with humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying God.  This was the single purpose in John’s life.  Honoring God through complete submission to His will.  Notice how John new his place – “I must decrease” and again when he says “I am not worthy to untie His sandals.”  John committed to God.  He served Him with his whole heart, mind and soul.  It would be good for each of us to remember to be humble and allow God in our lives to increase and our fleshly desire to decrease.  Think about and seek God in what areas of your life He should increase.