DAILY DIFFERENCE DEVOTION 06/23/2010

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (MATTHEW 16:24 KJV)

"REAL RELIGION: Following The Examples part 1"

The bible is filled with many examples from men of God to women of God, events and other happenings to even sinners which all serve as examples to us, the Christian (Romans 15:4)  These examples can be seen as a vital instruments in aiding us with our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  They can encourage us, lead us away from sin, warn us and help us to evaluate our own Christian life.  This week, hopefully, we will have devotions dealing with examples.  To begin we must recognize the most important example: THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

Χριστός Christos is transliterated meaning the anointed and Messiah, the Son of God in which He is the head of His church (Ephesians 5:23).  As the head, He is our first and highest example we are to look to as believers.  Daniel similarly did this with our Sovereign LORD in Daniel 2:20 when giving honor to the Lord for revealing the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation.  God had set this example of dream interpretation before with Joseph in Genesis 41:15-16.  Now, Jesus Christ our God is our example in this age and we should follow Him; looking at the things written He has done.  We should even follow Christ guided examples given to His disciples as well (John 13:14-15, 1^st Peter 2:21).  We must note that power of Χριστός Christos as an example is He molds the believer into His likeness.  Lets look at some of these texts below:

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

 

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (Ephesians 3:14-17)

This is what makes our example important to look to first.  What example in life do you know that lives within His followers shaping and molding them? We should marvel at how the Lord Jesus Christ, when sometimes interacting with certain men, He said, "to FOLLOW HIM."  Why?  He is the perfect example to follow:

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19)

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. (Matthew 8:22)

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21)

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. (Luke 5:27)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

In the last text listed above, Jesus Christ proclaims that as an example through His voice, His sheep will follow Him.  Are you following the main Example?  Are you looking to Jesus Christ first?  Or is your first objective to look within yourself?  The main example is Christ; follow Him!!!!!