MAKE IT YOUR AIM TO SERVE GOD FOREVER

HOW JESUS USED THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

Jesus Christ has a more intimate knowledge of God than others do. He lived and worked with Jehovah God in heaven for ages before coming to earth.  (Colossians 1:15, 16) And what did Jesus do with all that knowledge?  He was not satisfied with merely possessing it.  Jesus lived by it.  That is why he was so kind, patient, and loving in his dealings with fellow humans. Jesus was thus imitating his heavenly Father and acting in harmony with his knowledge of Jehovah's ways and personality. -John 8:23, 28, 29, 38; 1 John 4:8.

The knowledge Jesus had also moved him to take a crucial step. He came from Galilee to the Jordan River, where John baptized him.  (Matthew 3:14-15)  What did Jesus' baptism symbolize?  As a Jew, he was born into a nation dedicated to God. Hence, Jesus had been dedicated from birth.  (Exodus 19:5, 6) By submitting to baptism, he was presenting himself to Jehovah to do the divine will for him at that time.  (Hebrews 10:5, 7) And Jesus lived up to the meaning of his baptism.  He spent himself in Jehovah's service, sharing the knowledge of God with people at every opportunity.  Jesus found delight in doing God's will, even saying that this was like food for him. -John 4:34. 

Jesus fully realized that doing Jehovah's will would  be very costly-that it would even  cost him his life. Nevertheless, Jesus disowned himself, putting his personal needs in second place. Doing God's will always came first. In this respect, how can we follow Jesus' perfect example? 

Next time: MAKE IT YOUR AIM TO SERVE GOD FOREVER/STEPS THAT LEAD TO LIFE ETERNAL

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life