The next time you read the words of Christ in the Bible think about this:
There are two ways to look at these passages. One is to read them, value them as truth, the very word of God. Plant them in your heart, glory in them as they tell us so much about our One True Love. Then, read them again and allow them to be a checklist of sorts for your own heart and mind. Since the Bible tells us we are to be like Christ, can the same characteristics be seen in your life. When you see the deficiencies, ask the Lord to help you in that area of your life. Recognize that apart from Christ you cannot exhibit any of those qualities, but in Christ we should desire to be like him, and we have the enabling of the Holy Spirit. We will never attain His Perfection, but we should be growing.
Here's an example from last week's lesson:
John 8:28
So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.
1. Delight in the fact that Christ was willing to carry out the Father's will. It results in our salvation. Lifting up Christ is our life goal. He did not have his own agenda, but delighted in the Father's will.
2. Ask yourself, in what areas of life and I working on my own initiative (will). In what areas am I pressing for my own agenda, my own way? Ask the Lord to show you, then repent, confess that what you are actually doing is saying, "God, my way is better." If you are discontent where the Lord has you, you are not exhibiting the character of Christ.
TRY IT! Look for those words in red and then look at it from both perspectives!
Well, we have had our two weeks off, and all the hustle and bustle of the Holidays is behind us--so it's time to get back on track!
