DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT – THURSDAY: “What Would Jesus Desire?”

"The days in which we live are days of great opportunity and of grave responsibility, and a second-hand religion is not good enough for times such as these. They demand that we should always be at our best if we are to seize our opportunities and manfully shoulder our responsibilities." -- J. A. Broadbelt.
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -- Mat 28:19-20. (ESV)

As we conclude this series on “What Would Jesus Desire?” I think we know what Jesus would do in any given situation; so it was with this in mind that we ask the question... "What Would Jesus Desire?"

What would Jesus desire of us today? Is there something Jesus would want us to do today? Is there something Jesus would want us to be doing everyday?

It is the old choice which still is presented to every soul; the old crisis which reappears in every experience. Caesar, or Christ, that is the question: the vast, attractive, skeptical world, with its pleasures and ambitions and its prodigal promise, or the meek, majestic, and winning figure of Him of Nazareth?

The election remains for each of us. And the moment of the election, in the shaded and solemn "Valley of Decision," will be memorable in our history, when suns for us have ceased to shine! -- Source Unknown.

As we consider the words of Jesus in Mat 28:19-20, let us ask ourselves whether Jesus would desire it of us. For example, I believe Jesus would desire that we...

OBSERVE HIS COMMANDS
When I was in the military, my commanding officer would issue orders to his troops, if you carried them out as instructed, you were a good soldier! and you remained in the army! If you refused to carry out the orders, you were punished, and banished from the army!

Jesus said, “...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”. Water baptism was only the beginning; there are so many more commands to follow.

Observe means to put His commandments into operation in order to be His disciple… So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, -- John 8:31

What are some of His commandments?
To love each other… "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." -- John 13:34- 35.

Which is one way we show the world we are truly His disciples, which also implies the necessity of active involvement in a local congregation, i.e. Church!

He commands us to bear fruit… By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. -- John 15:8. Such as communicating the gospel, saving souls, serving others, growing in grace and in knowledge!

Unless we bear fruit, we will be cut off... every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 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. -- Jn 15:1-2; 6.

Bearing fruit comes only through a personal connection with Jesus... 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. -- Jn 15:4-5.

Our study was not intended to be exhaustive, because there are many other commands He gave us, suffice to say, that we need to learn everything that Jesus teaches us and put it into practice. The Church needs to stop being consumed with knowing everything and start obeying the orders the Commander - in - Chief has given us!

Dr. B.J. Miller once said, "It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it." -- Today In The Word.

During this study, I hope that I have encouraged you, to reflect on what Jesus would desire for us to do today:

• If you have not committed to become His disciple...
• If you have not been baptised...
• If you are not observing His commands...

What would Jesus desire for you?

Loving Father, I thank you that I have been baptised in water as commanded by Jesus. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a disciple of Jesus, to sit at His feet and learn from Him, that I may go forth some day and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded us. Knowing that He will always be with us to the end of the age! In Jesus name I pray! Amen!