A Word from John 5

What do you think God might want to do in the world today? Are there some needs He'd like to meet, or some relationships He'd like to heal? Are there some hurting hearts He'd like to encourage, or some anxious hearts He'd like to fill with peace? And whatever God wants to do in the world today, what role do you think Jesus will play in that? And what role do you think you will play in that?

I ask these questions because today's word from John 5 makes it pretty clear how Jesus will be involved. “I’m telling you this straight," Jesus says. "The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything He is doing." (Jn. 5:19-20, The Message) 

But if you keep reading, Jesus goes on to give a little hint about our role in God's activity. "It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this," Jesus says. "Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living." (Jn. 5:24, The Message, emphasis added) 

You see, it's good to know, I think, that Jesus is right now doing the Father's work. But as we "align ourselves with the Father" by trusting in Jesus and his message about what it means to participate in God's kingdom, then we get incorporated into what God is doing, too. And we find in the process that we've taken a step from death to life.

And so, let's truly live today! As we align ourselves with the person and message of Jesus. Amen.