Jesus has big shoes to fill.  But verse 6 says that, "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."  How can we walk like Jesus did?  I think the best thing to do would be to study how He lived while on earth.  I can say without in depth study that He walked with authority and confidence in God's love for Him, He walked in humility by putting others' needs before His own, and by serving and loving others.  Is it possible to walk as He walked on earth?  Have you ever been blessed to have someone say, "I see Jesus in you..?"  It's because you are walking as Jesus did!  That is probably the biggest compliment one could have, since our aim in life is to glorify Him in what we do, say and think.  Being a good example of Jesus is exactly what working out your salvation means.  The Holy Spirit is constantly perfecting us to be more like Him so that on the day of the Lord's return, we can be spotless and without blemish. What does this mean- especially since no one is perfect but Jesus?  Being spotless and without blemish isn't being without sin- although God, because of our sin paid for on the cross by Jesus, sees us without sin when we live out repentance.  But Job- even when God allowed everything to be taken from him- his fortunes and his family- he still trusted God.  He did not lose his trust and love for God because of his circumstances.  Instead, he worshipped God despite his circumstances.  When things get tough, do you lose your faith in God?  Jesus, when carrying His own cross to be crucified did not abandon His trust in His Father, but rather surrendered the circumstance to Him.  There are many people in the Bible that we can relate to and learn from- but Jesus is the perfect example.  How are you walking as He did?  Do you serve others?  Do you teach others about Him?  Do you completely trust in what the Father is doing- despite your circumstance?  Although Jesus was God, while He walked the earth he was also fully man.  He trusted what the Father was doing- even when He was walking to His own death.   He washed other people's feet as an act of service and humility and He taught people about Himself. Are you walking as He did?

        Jesus while on earth, did not associate Himself with the world, or it's desires.  Never once did He accumulate a lot of possessions, for He knew His purpose and He didn't allow anything to get in the way of it.  Jesus was tempted just as we were.  Yet, He didn't get caught up in worldly passions or desires.  Walking as Jesus walked also means to not let the world and anything in it become your master.  If you love the world, it's passions and it's possessions, you become it's slave.  Everything you do, work for and live for will be for the world.  Your desires will control your decisions, and you will eventually protect your possessions- since you worked so hard to get them.  Jesus wants us to love Him so much, that we allow Him to control our lives.  We cannot serve the world and Jesus.  It's one or the other.   Jesus gives us the desires of our hearts when we abide in Him. (Psalm 37:4)  The thing is, when we abide in Him, our desires are not of this world.  Of course, there are "things" we like- as you've heard in my other blogs...shoes, jewelry, clothes, etc.,  but Jesus knows that they don't bring us true contentment or even happiness.  When you abide in Him, He gives us desires of our hearts that are so much more fulfilling.  Sometimes the desires of our hearts- to us are unknown, until Jesus brings them before us.  Everything in this world is passing away, but the heavenly treasures will last forever.   

        I want to have confidence and not shame the day I meet Jesus.  I don't want the attitude of, "I'm not ready to change this or that yet", because if Jesus comes back tomorrow, I want Him to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"  Let your attitude align with His Word, let all you do align with Him.  Abide fully in Him, and He will abide fully in you. 

    John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.   Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.   By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.   As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.   If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

• Leanne

On 1 John Chapter 2