John 7:16-18, 24 (NIV) 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
I John 2:1-6 (NIV) 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 34 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
“And you call yourself a Christian.” The remark digs deep. Is there any defense against the charge? We can try to dismiss the accusation by saying Christians are not perfect, only forgiven. But defenses seem to fall flat, for the truth is the charge is at least partly true. There is a gap between our profession and our performance. How do we close the gap?
Our most basic behavioral assignment is not to obey the Golden Rule nor is it even the command to love one another. We are to conform our life to the life of Jesus. Before we were called Christians we were called Followers of the Way. The work of the first disciples was not simply to study with Jesus or learn about Him, but to practice His life. The insight and inspiration they received from Jesus helped them find faithful answers to new problems and difficulties.
Walk in His way. Conform your life to Jesus. There are rules, but trying to obey them without the instruction and inspiration of Jesus is difficult and often confusing. Walk in His way. That is the assignment. By this we can be sure we abide in Him. Certainty about God becomes more solid as we walk in His way. God’s realness, God’s will, God’s work emerge from the shadows of wondering and doubt as we walk in His way. Many of us are fairly cautious people when it comes to action. We want to be absolutely sure before making a move, but if we act on whatever small glimmer of light we may have we will know more.
As we walk in His way we will sometimes succeed and will marvel that frail mortals such as we can in truth be remade and molded into the image of Jesus. Sometimes we will fail, but if Simon Peter is any example, there is still hope. For God works His will for us through our success and our failure.
“And you call yourself a Christian.” Yes. And thank you for reminding me.
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 1993
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell
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