Looking like the heavenly Father means that we do what He would do and we say what He would say. Not many of us can say, “If you see me you have seen the Father”, like Jesus said in John 14:9. However, we have that potential when we become intentional about learning how to make the necessary adjustments.
If you have not yet read last week’s blog it is important that you do that now so you will understand this week’s.
Once your reading is caught up do the homework given last week and be sure to answer the questions that go along with each of the scriptures assigned. This exercise is designed to help us understand why some men look more like the Father than others by using the “C=M+E” formula. Clearly we will be able to see which ones can say what Jesus said in John 14:9.
In I Samuel 8:6-7 it was evident that Samuel’s alarm (E) was “displeasure” when Israel’s elders told him that they wanted a king. Samuel talked to the Lord about it (M) and was told to listen to the people. God also said that they were not rejecting Samuel but rather rejecting Him.
Samuel told (C) the elders what kind of king they would get (10-18). The elder’s responded (19-20) while Samuel listened (M) and shared (C) it (21) with the Lord. (22) The Lord responded by telling him to listen to the people and crown them a king (M).
Read though the other scriptures recommended in last week’s blog to see that Samuel continued to listen and obey the Lord.
Saul on the other hand, in I Samuel 15:3,13-21, lied (C) to Samuel but was quickly rebuked. It seemed that Saul was a bit nervous (E) as he tried to offer reasons (M) for the situation he had gotten into. Samuel continued to address the issue but Saul insisted that he had done what the Lord had commanded but at the same time, blamed the people (C) for the loot that was taken.
The Lord clearly told Saul to destroy everything and everyone (15:3) but he allowed his own thoughts in vs. 15 (“I will allow the people to spare the best sheep and oxen to make sacrifices to the Lord.”) to be the greatest influence for what he decided to do (C).
(22-23) Samuel spoke firmly to Saul reiterating the word and ways of the Lord. Saul was also informed that because he had rejected the word of the Lord that God had rejected him from being king.
(24) Saul finally admitted (C) that he had transgressed the commandments of the Lord and confessed that fear (E) had contributed to his disobedient behavior (C).
Later in vs. 18:8-11 Saul become angry with and suspicious (E) of David because of a song that women sang. They ascribed ten thousand to David but only thousands to Saul (M) in terms of those killed in battle. Saul allowed that emotion to seep deep into his soul. (Many people dwell on emotions and never take them to the Lord to find out what to do with them.) The next day the Lord allowed a bad spirit to come upon Saul which caused him to rave (C).
Now David was a man who was a great representation of God in the early days of his life. In I Samuel 17: 17-26 his father sent him to carry food supplies to his brothers, who were fighting against the Philistines, and to check on their well-being (M). David got up early the next morning to obey his father after securing resources to take care of his own responsibilities (C).
How do we know what his “E” was? We’d have to look at all the accounts of what he did and how he did them to know that he was eager and cheerful to do whatever his father asked of him.
(29) David got a bit irritated (E) with his older brother. He asked (C), “What have I done?” Notice, however, that though Eliab’s challenge got a rise out of David it did not distract him from his train of thought (M). After addressing his brother he turned to the other soldiers and asked again about the rewards for killing Goliath (C).
When a man thinks (M) the way the Lord thinks he will look like God in the way he acts or talks (C). And, have you noticed that the more we look like our heavenly Father the more favor we have with Him, and man? Selah!
Use this “C=M+E” formula as a mirror that will help you make the necessary adjustments to look more like your heavenly Father and see where you end up.
First, you have to learn to recognize your own alarm (E). It may sound like anxiety in your gut, gritting your teeth, or maybe your blood pressure shoots up. It is vitally important that you hear it when it goes off so you can practice going directly to your “M” (mind bank).
Spend enough time in the bank to identify any thoughts that need to be arrested (removed). There may be times when you lack adequate thoughts (wisdom) for making a decision (C). The Lord said all we have to do is ask and He would give bountifully, so ask. Then you will be equipped to make a withdrawal that produces a fruit that emulates your heavenly Father.
The more we do this exercise the more it will not only benefit us individually, but the more the earth will be filled with His glory. Imagine that. Let’s get busy!!
Blessings,
Dr. Terry