I often ask my wife and son if I look like Jesus to them. I don’t mean in physical appearance, and they don’t think as such. If I have looked like Jesus to them, it’s been in the way I gave. They don’t say I look like Jesus because I did my devotions, or taught a Sunday School class, or wrote an article. They say I look like Jesus if I gave encouragement to them or someone else, or if I gave to someone in ministry out of my pocket, or if I gave love and attention to an unlovable/unnoticeable, or even if I gave my story (testimony) to someone who didn’t know Jesus the way I do. Cowboys gave, and still give, me great pleasure to watch. My dad gave me a place (house) and position (physical) being on this earth. My heavenly Father gave me completeness in everything, including all time (eternity), to share it with Him. I think He is worth imitating. (Pause for Thought: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 2:5. How do you feel, emotionally, about living a life of sacrifice? How is Paul’s instruction to us in Romans different than the world’s instruction to us? What is happening and has happened when the world’s way is followed? What happened to you because Jesus lived a sacrificial life? Who will you imitate?)
07
Feb '19
Sincere Flattery
07
Feb '19
To my four year-old mind, the greatest people living were my dad and cowboys. Now I didn’t exactly understand what a plumber did, though I knew because my dad was one, we got to eat and live in a nice house. I knew cowboys punched cattle, ate outside, and shot pistols because I saw them do these things on TV. The thing that brought these two icons together for me in my evaluation of greatness was shaving. That’s right, shaving whiskers with a razor. The great people in my life shaved. I wanted to be great. Therefore, I wanted a razor and shave, so I could be great too. (Pause for Thought: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”—Ephesians 5:1-2. Who did you imitate as a child? Why? Who do you imitate now? Why?)
Oscar Wilde said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” As I finish these little articles regarding “living up” to God’s grace filled majesty through appreciation, devotion, and imitation, I realize I can never earn the place (Heaven) or position (Royal Priest) He has given me, but I look the part and give glory to God by being like His son, Jesus Christ, who GAVE. Being who I am in Christ will result in my giving ME as a forGIVER, GIVER of tithes and offerings, GIVER of talents and abilities, GIVER of time and energy, GIVER of attention and encouragement, and so on. Paul calls this living a life of sacrifice. (Pause for Thought: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship”—Romans 12:1. How have you consciously tried to imitate Jesus this week? What were the results? Were the results consistent with the results Jesus received? How do you/can you know?)
