Jesus said, ‘The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does’ (John 5:19-20 NIV). The demands on Jesus were endless. Those who were sick wanted Him to help them. The Pharisees wanted to embroil Him in theological arguments. His disciples wanted Him to go to certain places and not others. But every step Jesus took, every act He performed, and every question He answered was in response to the leadings of His heavenly Father. That’s why He didn’t burn out. That’s why He could say on the eve of His crucifixion, ‘I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do’ (John 17:4 NKJV). Now you understand why Jesus often prayed all night and rose early in the morning to pray while His disciples were still sleeping. He had only one purpose: doing what God wanted done that day. Is that easy to do? No. People will pressure you, and unmet needs will guilt-trip you unless you are absolutely clear as to what God wants you to do. And knowing that calls for intimacy, dependency, sensitivity, and obedience to God. But living this way brings a level of joy and fulfilment that cannot be found in anything else. And this is the life you have been called to live, because Jesus said, ‘As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you’ (John 20:21 KJV).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.