“I was reading in Matthew’s gospel earlier this morning,” Stan commented, “and I saw a single verse that says it all for my faith walk.”
“Says it all in a single verse? Must be quite a verse!”
“That’s how it struck me,” Stan replied. “And while it was in the context of a specific assignment Jesus had for some of His disciples, I see it as a specific directive to me.”
“What was it?”
“It was when Jesus was getting ready to enter Jerusalem before He was going to go to the cross. He was getting ready for His triumphal entry into the city. He needed a donkey to ride on so he sent some of the disciples to get one.”
“Were they going to have to rent one’?” I asked.
“No,” Stan replied, “they were going to get one from someone Jesus said would lend it to them. Jesus told the disciples to say that He had need of it if anyone asked.”
“So,” I said, “how does this donkey story apply to your walk of faith?”
“It’s what’s recorded in that single verse. It says that the disciples went and did just as Jesus had directed them. And it’s the ‘just as’ that’s crucial for me. There are all sorts of places in the Bible where I’m told to do something ‘just as’ Jesus did.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Love, for example,” he replied. “Jesus said I am to love just as He loved. And there is service. Jesus said I am to serve just as He served. And the apostle Paul said that husbands are to love their wives just as Jesus loved and gave Himself for the church.”
“Okay,” I said. “Just as. How are you supposed to know what that means?”
“Read and study God’s word where it shows what the ‘just as’ was all about. As well, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He helps and counsels as to whether what I am doing fits into the ‘just as’.”
Concluding, Stan said, “I can’t do just as I am supposed to do unless I know what that ‘just as’ looks like. See it, identify it, and do it just as I’m supposed to do!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And the disciples went and did just as Jesus had directed them. Matthew 21:6.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34.
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did for you. John 13:14, 15.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for showing me what “just as” means if I will only take the time to read your word and listen to your voice. You know how often I fail to be “just as” you intend either because I don’t know or I don’t care to know. Please forgive me and please help me to follow every step of your lead in living this life “just as” you intend. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: To live this life “just as” God intends is a very high standard. Do you think it’s possible? Why or why not? If you want to know what “just as” looks like, how do you do that? Is that something you want? If so, and you aren’t there, do you know how to get there?
Waiting for the Train 