Here it is from three of the most influential writers in the New Testament for all of us believers to see, read, ...and DO:

Peter - “For this you were called...since Christ suffered for us leaving us an example...you should follow His steps...” (1 Pet. 2:21)

Paul – “Therefore as God’s children...be imitators of Him and walk in love as Christ also loved us...” (Eph. 5:1-2)

John – “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6)

I know...easier said than done, right? And how many of us have tried and tried and tried so many times to do this in our own power...to ‘be like Jesus’, and then continue to fall on our faces in failure. Some, if not many eventually give up all together in frustration and walk away. Others keep picking themselves up, dusting themselves off as they wipe away their bitter tears, thankful for God’s ‘grace and mercy’ along with the fact that “God understands you are not perfect, just forgiven’.

But what kind of a loving God would command us ‘do’ or ‘be’ something that clearly, none of us could ever accomplish or succeed at? You know...like ‘go and sin no more’ (John 5:14; 8:11” and “be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). Jesus even drew the comparison after giving a few examples as to how we should ‘love our enemies, do good to them who hate us and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute us...SO THAT...we may be ‘sons of your Father’ in heaven...” (Matt. 5:43-45)

I mean, really....what kind of an earthly father makes those kind of ‘demands’: ”Get straight A’s in school!”; or “You better never strike out at the plate or miss a free throw so you can make me a proud dad!”?

And yet, whenever I come across any of those three verses I began with here, I am drawn back to John’s gospel where I hear Jesus makes statements like: ‘I only do or say what the Father has told me to do or say’ (John 12:49-50).

Or how about John 14:31 – “I want the world to know that I love the Father and whatever He has commanded Me to do, I do.”

Umm...in case you have not figured this out yet, you nor I can do this on our own, no matter how badly you want to do this or regardless of how hard you ‘try’! It ain’t gonna happen; period!

This was the frustration that Paul spoke of there in Romans 7...where he agrees with all that God lays out in His law, and ‘wants’ to do good, but recognizes this ‘body of death’ (flesh nature) that gets in the way ...Every. Single. Time. (15-24). He even laments...’who will deliver me from this wretched man that I am’. Sadly ...too many sincere believers have pointed to that text and use it as an excuse to justify their repeated failures- “If Paul continued to be a sinner, who am I to think I can do better than Paul at this?!”

Friends...this is where we make the mistake and fail to continue reading...as Paul first answers his own question...giving praise to God for Jesus Christ who ‘delivers us from this body of death’. He then launches off into the 8th chapter of Romans explaining how this is accomplished...by submitting to the leading of God’s Spirit, which is what the true ‘children of God do’ (8:14) as the Spirit ‘leads us to put these sinful deeds of the flesh nature to death’ (13).

Yes...there is some ‘suffering’ involved as we do this, but He is right there with us every step of the way giving us ‘grace in our time of need’ and empowering us to overcome all the ‘wiles of the enemy’ who desires to trip us up. But let’s not forget that ‘whose who have suffered...have ceased from sin’, as Peter reminds us (1 Pet. 4:1-2). This...is how ‘those who belong to Christ have put to death all the passions and desires of the flesh’ (Gal. 5:24)

And here’s some encouraging news: Jesus said because He loves the Father and does what the Father asks of Him...that the ‘wicked one has no place, no hold, no ground in Him’. (John 14:30). This is the only way we can ever ‘be like Jesus’ and truly ‘die to self’ and ‘give no place to the devil’ (Eph. 4:27) nor ‘make any provision for the flesh’ (Rom. 13:14).

Our biggest obstacle is coming to a place up front...where we will willingly surrender our ‘whole heart’ to Him so that...He can lead us to ‘decrease’ that He might ‘increase’ in us. (John 3:30). But guess what...to those who do...God then “gives us all things that pertain to living a life of godliness (being like God) as we become ‘partakers of His divine nature’ (2 Pet. 1:3-4), which is what He came to do in us. That is why that promise of ‘all things working together for the good’ is given to those who ‘love God’...as they are conformed to His image/likeness’ (Rom. 8:28-29) 

It's easy to ‘say we love God’, as we ‘honor Him with our lips’; but unless He has our whole heart...all we are muttering are ‘empty words’. (Matt. 15:8; 7:21; Luke 6:46)

Years ago, I was flying back home and sat next to an off-duty airline pilot who told me he was Mormon. We had a very pleasant conversation as we spoke of our faith and the scriptures. As the plane was about to land, he asked me: “So who do you believe then will be the ones who will enter in to the eternal kingdom?” I turned to him and in an unplanned or unscripted response, uttered this phrase: “I believe that the only people who will be in heaven are people who love Jesus.” It was a defining and unique moment, for me. He looked at me with a sense of enlightened awe and said “Why I believe the scriptures support that.” It had obviously resonated with him as well.

Did Jesus not sum it up nicely...”If you love Me...do what I say.” (John 14:15). I mean really...’anyone can honk’.

Happy Father’s Day.