Many Christians are trapped in a sad inconsistency! They are
being asked to treat others in a different manner than they are
being taught God treats them!
It is as though God, as their heavenly Father, is saying "Do
what I say, not what I do!" Unfortunately, that view of God
undermines His method of teaching His children. With this picture
of God asking us to do for others that which He is not first doing
for us, rebellion builds in the child of God.
However, as we look at Scripture, we see something totally different
and refreshing! In verse after verse, we find God calling us to
be like Himself (Romans 8:29, pg. 955; I Peter 1:16, pg. 1022).
The result of this very basic truth is that every commandment
given in God's Word contains a wealth of information about God
and His characteristics.
This is the concept we want to work with in this paper:
Let's work together through some of His commandments and discover what we can about this God we desire to know. Later there will be some commandments for you to discover on your own.
These two verses from I Peter were spoken to church Elders
in a desire to show them God's method for leading His church.
Although that is not the emphasis of this study, if we apply the
above principle (i.e. Whatever God commands me to be -- he already
is!), we find a world of information about the method God uses
in leading us.
What are the attitudes as He leads and works with us? Out of this
section of Scripture, one of the most exciting truths to me is
that God is EAGER to shepherd me! Taking care of me is not a responsibility
that God reluctantly accepts (i.e.just because He's God). Rather
He shepherds me with a spirit of eagerness! Many times this has
not been my picture of God's attitudes. Sometimes I see Him getting
tired of taking care of me. How refreshing it is to see Him clearly!
See how easy it is to use a commandment to give us a clearer view
of God? Let's try another!
One of the greatest areas of inconsistency is brought to the
forefront by carefully thinking through this commandment.
God says in this verse that we are not to trust nor ultimately
depend upon another human being. The reason for this command is
shared just four verses later when He says:
In the previous concept, we apply the fact that God models
for us what He wants us to do. Therefore, GOD DOESN'T TRUST IN
MANKIND! He doesn't lean in a dependent manner on humans to accomplish
His tasks!
At first reading, the above statement might seem so elementary
that it isn't important. We need only think back to emphases in
our past to hear in our minds some sermon that portrayed God as
counting on us to get His task accomplished. How inaccurate those
presentations become as we see that God NEVER trust in us!
Although it is true that He works through people to accomplish
His work here in earth, His ultimate trust to get the job done
resides in Himself! This truth removes an otherwise unreasonable
burden from the Christian. Once again a commandment has been used
to clarify a proper view of the Person of God. The commandment
becomes a check on whether or not we are seeing God correctly.
Can it be? Does this verse really say that God might view me
as more important than Himself? The Creator of the Universe, the
Lord of all lords, the King of all kings, views me as more important
than Himself?
If God asks me to have that attitude towards another, then He
does indeed first have that attitude toward me! In fact the rest
of the passage surrounding Philippians 2:3 shows that Christ was
willing to leave heaven in order to come to earth and die for
me. His actions speak even louder than His words in showing that
indeed He did view us as more important than Himself! The concept
is totally staggering but nevertheless totally true.
Here we find capsulized in one verse the entire concept under
consideration. Whatever God wishes us to do for Him, He will first
do for us! What a beautiful picture this gives us as to the way
He leads us.
All too often we picture Him leading us from a position high in
the heavens shouting down to us in a booming voice through a megaphone.
He barks the orders and we try to respond.
However, in contrast to that picture, John 13 (pg. 910) gives
us a very clear picture of how He really operates in His leadership
in our lives. In that chapter Jesus is sitting with His followers
at the final meal together before His death. In His conversation
with them, He will eventually present them with the following
commandment:
Contrary to some of our first thoughts, he did NOT begin by
telling them what to do. Peter probably would have found that
easier. If Christ would have said, "Peter, this is what I
want you to do. Go around and wash the other disciples' feet!",
Peter would have done it! In fact, Peter would have felt good
about himself after having done it!
However, Christ had a better way. Christ wanted to lead Peter
by serving him. He wanted to first do for Peter that which He
would later ask Peter to do for others. Peter's reaction was predictable.
He resisted as Jesus stooped to wash his feet. Who wouldn't? As
the account progresses, Christ persists and states that it is
absolutely essential that Peter allow himself to be served before
attempting to be a servant.
Whenever we resist God serving us, we short-circuit the infinitely
wise method of God in teaching us. To the extent that I have not
allowed Him to serve me in the area of forgiveness, I will not
overflow with forgiveness towards others. To the extent that I
have not experienced His viewing of me as more important than
Himself, I will have difficulty viewing others more important
than myself. Any area in which I am not overflowing in obedience
can be traced back in part to the fact that I have not allowed
Christ to fully teach me that area by His example to me.
What a God! What a marvelously wise Teacher He is! May each commandment
in the Bible fill you with an increased awe of who He is! As a
result, may your life be characterized not by overwork, but rather
by overflow!
1. Put yourself in Peter's place in John 13. If Peter had washed
the disciples'; feet prior to having his own washed, what in all
probability would have been his attitude during and following
his washing of their feet?
2. In contrast, how would you characterize his probable attitude
AFTER Christ had washed his feet?
3. In what ways is Christ's true method of leading by serving
much wiser than the way we tend to typically view His leadership?
Do you remember when you first learned how to subtract one number
from another? You placed one number under the other and then entered
your answer below the line.
Do you remember how you'd then in an effort to check your answer
add the second number in the column with the answer and you should
arrive at the top answer.
God's commandments can now serve as a check on our view of God.
After reading the commandment, we need to be able to see God doing
it first for us. If we cannot picture Him doing the commandment
first for us, one of two possible problems may exist:
In either regard, the check will have been profitable. You
will either need to realign your view of God or change your understanding
of what the commandment actually means.
Let's try it!
Below are come commandments taken from the Bible. After reading
each passage apply the following principle:
Then answer the question "What does this commandment teach
me about who God really is?"
1. Matthew 20:25-28 (pg. 832) _________________________________________________
2. II Timothy 2:24-26 (pg. 1005) _______________________________________________
3. Titus 1:5-9 (pg. 1006) ______________________________________________________
4. I Timothy 3:1-7 (pg. 1002) __________________________________________________
5. I Corinthians 13:4-8 (pg. 971) ________________________________________________
6. I Thessalonians 5:14 (pg. 999) ________________________________________________
7. I Thessalonians 5:16 (pg. 999) ________________________________________________