Aligned With Our Father
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.” John 5:19 (CSB)
In this passage, Jesus responds to the Jews who sought to kill Him because He healed on the Sabbath and called God His Father. Even though Jesus was bringing good news and healing the sick, the synagogue leaders could not recognize the good in His actions. Their vision was clouded by their own traditions and regulations.
Many times, God calls us to move beyond our familiar paradigms. When He places a passion or desire in our hearts, it often does not align with what others—even fellow believers—may expect or approve of. We should not be surprised to face criticism, because God’s ways do not follow human traditions. Jesus Himself did not allow the destructive responses of the religious leaders to stop Him from completing the task the Father had given Him.
As we carry out our God-given assignments, we too must remain steadfast when others misunderstand or complain. Like Jesus, we can boldly say: “I am doing what God has told me to do, and He has given me the power to do it.” We are not here to please people but to please God.
This reminds me of an incident involving my husband, who plays in a small jazz band that performs throughout the greater Sacramento/Bay Area. He knows that God has opened doors for him to bring joy to others through music, and he is deeply grateful for this opportunity.
On one occasion, he was invited to play at his department’s Christmas party. He prayed beforehand, seeking God’s guidance on what songs to play. After the event, a co-worker approached him and said something along the lines of, “I thought you were a Christian. How could you play those pagan songs at the Christmas party? You didn’t play a single religious song.” My husband was shocked, especially since this person considered himself a friend. This individual was so consumed by religious thinking that he failed to see God’s presence and purpose even in the songs my husband had chosen.
We must be prepared for criticism when we choose to align ourselves with Christ. The people who most opposed Jesus were often the religious leaders of His time. He even said to them:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)
Traditions and rigid religious mindsets can easily pull us out of alignment with Jesus. We must guard against this and stay focused on Him.
Key Takeaways
Alignment with Jesus Christ often invites criticism.
Jesus never withheld the truth to spare someone’s feelings.
Alignment: a position of agreement and partnership with Christ.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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