The word ‘disclaimer’ according to the dictionary means:- to renounce claim to, or responsibility for; to disown; to repudiate or to give up all claim by denial.

When the Jews accused Jesus of making himself equal with God because he had said that God was his Father,

Jesus in John 5  : 19 gave a ‘disclaimer’.  The son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the son likewise.  Again in verse 30 he re-emphasises, I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because – I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

In this journey, on our walk with the Lord, there are many things that we must disclaim if God is to be glorified in our lives.

Jesus came to show us, by demonstration, how to relate correctly to our Father God.  He always gave credit due, to his Father, and never took it to himself. Time and again he disclaimed any ability of himself to achieve.  When one called him ‘Good Master’ Jesus said to him, “why callest thou me good? none is good save one, that is, God” quoted from Luke 18: 18 & 19.

Why is it so important for us, as believers, to follow the same pattern as Jesus?  Well, whilst he is the only begotten of the Father, his purpose is to bring many sons to glorify God (Heb 2: 10) He is the firstborn among many brethren (Heb 2: 10)  We are the many brethren.

John 5: 44  Jesus said, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”

Is this the reason why my life does not express or manifest the victorious life that the word of God declares is my inheritance in Christ?  Am I seeking the approval and honour of man, and friendship of the world which is enmity with God? (James 4: 4)  One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit in my life is to bring me to a place of complete dependency on him, so as to gain the approval of God alone, not man.  For this to happen I must have a complete change in my believing, where I seek honour that comes from God alone.  When I have the smile of God’s approval, I have the attendant peace and joy as a witness that my life is gloryfying to God.

I cannot steal the Presence.  I may try to convince men that I am living in God’s presence with an outward show of false humility, but God looks on the inner man of the heart and knows the real motive of why I am doing what I am doing.

If God gives me joy and peace in believing,  (Rom 14: 17 & 15: 13)  these are two emotions which are the infallible proof of God that my life has his approval.  I repeat, we cannot steal His presence.

Jesus came that we may have life, and that we may have life more abundantly.

As we look back in the year 2017, and forward to 2018, I ask myself and all our readers, is this truth, the ‘recipe’ for the abundant life in Jesus, which is our inheritance?

May God’s blessing and presence be evident with you all this Christmas, and give us the eternal hope and expectation of drawing ever closer to him in our journey into 2018!