Do you have a routine? What is your routine? Do you do the same things over and over the same way day after day?
We are creatures of habit. If you were to take next week and record your actions and movements I believe you would find a repetitious pattern.
We do many things out of habit. When you put on your pants, you most likely put in the same leg first each time. When I put mine on, my left leg goes in first. If I deliberately put my right leg in first if find myself off balance and it becomes an effort.
When you get out of bed in the morning, you probably get off on the same side each morning. If your bed is against the wall, you have no choice.
When you are ready to soap up your washcloth to wash your face, chances are your washcloth always goes in the same hand.
You will probably have many friends if you make it your routine or practice to do whatever they want you to do.
Other words for routine include custom and practice. Have you ever asked yourself is Jesus had any routines or customs? I thought about this and decided to try and show that Jesus did have routines and customs.
What kind of customs did Jesus have?
1. He made it a practice to love people.
2. His custom was to worship and teach in the temple.
3. Jesus made it a practice to forgive people.
4. His practice was to restore life to those who had lost it.
5. He made it a practice to feed the hungry.
6. He made it a practice to bless the children.
7. He had a routine of praying.
Let’s take a look at these practices or customs Jesus had.
1. He made it a practice to love people.
John recorded these words in his gospel: “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1).
Jesus knew at this time that one of his disciples would betray him and the rest of them would leave him for a while. Although Jesus knew what the disciples would do, he continued to show forth his love for them.
After he had supper with his disciples, Scripture tells us he arose from the table, took the towel and water basin and washed the feet of his disciples. His love for them was so strong that he humbled himself and became a servant to them.
He wanted to show his disciples a servant attitude and he wanted them to do the same to other people. Doing this, they would become more like him and follow in his footsteps.
Are you and I able to humble ourselves to the low level of servant and follow Jesus? Could we take the towel and basin and wash the feet of each other? That is what Jesus did.
Jesus was also able to love his enemies. He had a multitude of enemies. Scripture tells us that “while he was still speaking, behold, a multitude…drew near to him… (Luke 22:47). This was the group who came to the Garden to arrest Jesus. In the commotion, one of Jesus’ disciples took his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.
Jesus did not hate or dislike these people. He did not resist the arrest, but instead, he touched the servant whose ear was severed and healed it and then went forth with those who came to arrest him. This was his way of showing forth his love to them.
He showed his great love for mankind when they nailed him to the Cross. He did not have to let this happen. He could have changed the course of history. He could have destroyed all those who were trying to destroy him.
Instead, his love for the Father was so great and his love for mankind was so strong that he chose the Cross so that mankind would have an opportunity to believe, to repent, to accept, and to spend eternity with him in the Father’s kingdom. The Father so loved the world that the Son was willing to give his life for the redemption and salvation of mankind.
People can know God’s love through each of us. Listen to this story from a missionary to China.
Story: “How They Knew God’s Love”
We tried to visit the lepers at least once a month, when they gathered out on the grass, and we went over what they had learned and sought to make clear the way of salvation by the use of Gospel posters.
Sometimes we asked them questions, to see if they really understood what they were learning. I remember once asking the question, “Just how do you know that the Lord Jesus loves you?”
They answered, “Because of you.” This truly touched our hearts and we praised God for the privilege of being His instruments to carry the glad tidings to such as these poor lepers. --China’s Millions
2. His custom was to worship and teach in the temple.
Luke recorded these words for us: “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16).
Remember that Jesus was the perfect Son of God the Father. Although he was the Son of God, he did not think it was below him to go to the synagogue every week to worship.
Mankind, human-beings, you and I are not perfect at all and should be in church each week to praise God and give thanks for all he has done for us. All of us have made excuses for not attending God’s house of worship.
It looks like rain today so I think I will just relax at home.
When I got up this morning, I turned on the coffee pot and it wouldn’t work.
I have to have coffee so I will just stay home.
I forgot to get fuel in the car last night, so I better not take a chance of running out of gas on the way to church.
I turned on the shower and there was no hot water.
I am not going to church without a nice warm shower.
Last week in church, I sat beside this person who kept falling asleep so I am not going to church today.
There is going to be a substitute pastor preaching today and I sure don’t want to hear him.
The pastor’s message was boring last week so I am not going this week.
Last week after the service there weren’t any more doughnuts and coffee left for me, so I will just show them and not go today. Excuses go on and on.
Story: “Keep Out!”
I asked an elderly woman once, “If I go to church and the preacher says nothing worth hearing, is it any use for me to go?”
“Of course not,” she replied curtly.
But a young man overhearing our conversation intruded, “I don’t see why a man, when he goes to church to worship God, would let a preacher butt in on his worship!”
This is a good point. We don’t go to church to worship the pastor, but we do go to worship the Father.
Jesus never gave an excuse for not attending the synagogue. It was his practice or custom to be there every week.
3. Jesus made it a practice to forgive people.
Jesus forgave the sinful woman of the city who came to him and washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. She then kissed his feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil (Luke 7:37-38).
Jesus forgave the paralytic and healed him. Matthew recorded these words: “Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you’” (Matthew 9:2).
Are we able to forgive as Jesus forgave? Every time we repeat the Lord’s Prayer we are attesting to the fact we follow Jesus example: “And forgive us out debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).
Jesus practiced forgiveness.
Story: “His Forgiveness Won Him”
In the home of Dr.Goheen, a missionary in India, a native was dusting the furniture and carelessly upset a beautiful vase, which fell to the floor, breaking in many pieces. The frightened native dropped on his knees before Dr. Doheen, begging for mercy.
The doctor smiled and said, “Never mind; I forgive you.”
The astonished servant looked for a moment upon the quiet face of the Christian man, where there was not the slightest trace of anger; then leaping to his feet he cried, “I believe! I believe!”
He then told how, as a servant in the home, he had been gradually coming to know Christ through the doctor, and now his readiness to forgive had won him completely to the Master. --Christian Work
Is it any wonder Jesus had so many followers? Because of his forgiveness, people were attracted to him. Our forgiveness can also lead others to the Master.
4. His practice was to restore life to those who had lost it.
Jesus went to the home of Jairus to heal his daughter, but when they arrived, the people outside said the little 12-year girl was dead. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well” (Luke 8:50).
Jesus went into the house with Peter, James, John, the girl’s father and mother and “took her by the hand and called, saying, ‘Little girl, arise’” (Luke 8:54). Scripture says that the spirit returned and the immediately opened her eyes, got up, and requested something to eat.
Lazarus died and was in the grave 4 days, but Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (John 11:11). Jesus commanded the stone be removed from the cave and said, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43).
John says, “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth,. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go’” (John 11:44).
To this very day, Jesus’ practice is to restore life. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Jesus wants us to enjoy the life he has given us. He wants us to be joyful and happy. He wants us to live each day to the fullest. He wants us to love one another as he loves us. We are not to be dead, but we are to be alive. By following his commands and walking in his footsteps, we too, will bring glory to our heavenly Father.
Story: “The Thief”
The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.
D. L. Moody, "Day by Day with D.L Moody," Moody Press.
II Peter 3:9 tells us: “The LORD is… not willing that any should perish…”
5. He made it a practice to feed the hungry.
On one occasion, Jesus fed four thousand men plus women and children. This great multitude had been with Jesus three days as he taught and preached. Jesus said to the disciples: “ I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way” (Matthew 15:32).
He took seven loaves and a few fish, gave thanks, and had the disciples distribute the food to the people. Scripture tells us that all of them ate to the point of being filled. After everyone ate, seven large baskets of fragments were collected.
On another occasion, Jesus fed five thousand men plus women and children. Scripture tells us that Jesus saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
The disciples realized that it was very late in the day, they were in a deserted place, and the people were hungry, so they told Jesus to send the people away so they could go find something to eat.
Jesus did not send the people away hungry, but he took the five loaves and two fish, gave thanks and had the disciples feed the people.
How would you feel if you had not eaten for three days? I know I would be very hungry. Jesus could have just sent the people away. He could have said something like: “Okay the service is over and now go find yourself something to eat.” He knew their physical bodies needed nourishment, so he provided that nourishment for them.
There are many people in our own community who are hungry. Are we like the disciples who requested they be sent away so they could find food for themselves?
Do we show love and compassion for people who are less fortunate than we? Are we willing to give up a little of what we have so that others might have something to eat? Do we follow Jesus’ example and feed the hungry?
6. He made it a practice to bless the children.
Matthew recorded these words for us the 19th chapter of his Gospel: 13. Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for as such is the kingdom of heaven”. 15: And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Jesus shows his love to the little children by blessing them. In this world today, many children do not receive the love and compassion they so badly need from their parents or other people. Jesus never mistreated a little child, but today many children are mistreated and abused.
Jesus is asking us to show forth the love and compassion toward children that he showed when he walked the earth. If we are his disciples, we will follow in his footsteps.
7. He had a routine of praying.
Mark 1:35 tells us: Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there he prayed.
Jesus started his day with prayer. This was his custom or routine. Prayer is the link between us and God, as it was the link between Jesus and His Father. He went to a quiet place to pray so that he would not be disturbed.
Do you and I start our day with prayer or communion with our Heavenly Father? Do we look for a quiet place where we will not be interrupted or sidetracked during the time we speak to God. We need a quiet place to speak, but also we need a quiet place so that we can listen when God is speaking to us.
Jesus not only prayed in the morning, but he also prayed at night and at times all night. Luke 6:12 has these words: Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
When was the last time you prayed all night? I have not ever prayed all night.
Jesus always stayed in touch with God the Father through prayer. We should do the same.
The men who have accomplished most for God have been men of prayer.
1. John Wesley was wont to spend at least two hours each day in prayer.
2. Samuel Rutherford rose at three o’clock each morning to wait upon God.
3. John Fletcher was said to have stained the walls of his chamber by the breath of his prayers.
4. George Whitefield, the famous English evangelist, said, “O Lord give me souls, or take my soul!”
5. Dwight L. Moody prayed: “Use me then, my Savior, for whatever purpose and in whatever way Thou mayest require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel; fill it with Thy grace.”
Conclusion:
1. Jesus made it a practice to love people.
2. His custom was to worship and teach in the temple.
3. Jesus made it a practice to forgive people.
4. His practice was to restore life to those who had lost it.
5. He made it a practice to feed the hungry.
6. He made it a practice to bless the children.
7. He had a routine of praying.
Are our customs or routines in line with Jesus’?
Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).
Amen.
