John 15: 14 - 16, You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. NKJV
There are Christians, and then there are obedient Christians. Jesus teaches that if we discipline ourselves to follow His will and not our own, it affects how He views us. Consequently, do you seek the Lord so that you might know and do His will in your life? Are you a disciple of God's Word? And do you allow it to be the standard by which you live your life? If so, then Jesus sees you as His friend.
In America, we have within our government an organization called the Central Intelligence Agency. This group of people handles some of the most classified and sensitive information concerning our national security. However, as important as this information is to our public defense, it doesn't even compare to the wisdom that Jesus reveals to those who obey His will in their lives. Doesn't the Bible teach us that except the Lord watch over the city, the watchmen stay awake in vain? If we should be so consumed with temporal knowledge that we make no time or effort for serving Jesus, what will it profit us eternally? Absolutely nothing!
Jesus' desire is that we, His disciples be obedient to His voice and His calling, thereby fulfilling His divine purpose in and through our lives. As we are faithful to Him, He will begin to reveal His hidden wisdom and secret plans to us. It is vitally important that Christians learn to be obedient to the Lord. Our submission will allow Him to have greater influence in the direction of the affairs of all men.
When we are well-trained in our obedience, Jesus will see that we are raised to places of prominence. For example, God revealed to Joseph in the book of Genesis the interpretation to Pharaoh's dream. Therefore, as a result of having divine insight, Pharaoh exalted Joseph over both the economy and the plan that carried Egypt and the Jews through seven years of famine.
It's high time for us as the people of God to set our affections on things above and not on the earth. We need to be about our Father's business; we must allow Him to use us as SALT and LIGHT so that this world might be preserved from corrupt men. You may see yourself as insignificant. Nevertheless, all you need is to be obedient and faithful to God. He will take care of the rest. Who knows? You might just be the next Esther or Nehemiah that God uses to deliver His people.
May we all lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us and let us run the race that God has set before us with great joy and endurance. Jesus desires to call us His friend.
Serving His Purpose,
Pastor Asa Dockery
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