GIVEN OVER

It is a repeated theme in the teaching of Jesus that we are to be given over completely to his Kingdom thoughts and ways. He pushes full speed ahead in parable and actions to take us to the Father. When speaking to his disciple Philip, Jesus said, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”

The liability and the credibility of our discipleship belong strictly to us. It does not rest with religion, organizations, churches, ministries, pastors, teachers, practices, doctrines or rules. We must not give the responsibility of our lives to someone else. If we do… someone else makes our decisions for us. Jesus leads us to the Father and we take complete responsibility for following or not. Others may aid us in our journey but when decision time comes, it is up to us to be given over to or to be getting out. Or like Philip we can keep saying, “Show us the Father.” Jesus will keep answering, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

“If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Jesus