A Lenten Reflection
So that we might emulate Him
The soul touched by the redemptive and transformative love of Christ Jesus is marked forever; it is altered greatly from its original state. For with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the soul grows ever more in those virtues which God prizes and esteems.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
The person who has truly surrendered to Christ, calling Him Lord and Savior, will not be as the world's men and women; for what the reborn seeks will be a far cry from what the world rejoices in. The manner in which Christ's own carry themselves will be marked with the love and compassion of their Master, they will seek to emulate Him in all they can, even if they stumble at times.
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism," (Ephesians 4:1-32)
Is it your desire, friends, to be as much like Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for you, as you possibly can? Do you seek to walk as He did? Do you strive to live by His commands? Or do you cleave closer to the world than to He who can save you from the fate of the sinful soul? The world will only draw you down to mired filth; flee from that! The wages of sin are death, but those who are in Christ Jesus have eternal life.
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-5)
And as we abide ever deeper in the love and presence of Jesus, as our natures become more like His, we will find ourselves immersed in His peace; His love will pour from us in an increasingly natural way.
"Beloved, since we, then, are the people who say that we abide in him, it is upon us that the obligation of the text falls: we ought ourselves also so to walk even as he walked. A Bible ought has great weight with a conscientious man. Ought it to be so? Then it shall be so, God helping me. If we say we must do. If we talk, we must walk, or it will, be mere talk. If we make the profession of abiding in Christ, we must prove it by our practice of walking with Christ. If we say that we are in Christ and abide in him, we must take care that our life and character are conformed to Christ, or else we shall be making an empty boast. This is true of every man who says he is in Christ, for the text is put in the most general and absolute manner: be the man old or young, rich or poor, learned or simple, pastor or hearer, it is incumbent upon him to live like Christ if he professes to live in Christ." Charles Spurgeon "In Him: Like Him"
In our lives, friends, we come across choices by the hour, sometimes by the minute; in each choice then, let us resolve ourselves to try and choose to do whatever it may be in the spirit of Christ, so that we may honor Him with our lives. If we see someone in need, let us reach out and help. If we see a brother struggling, let us encourage and lift him up. If we see a woman who is hurting, let us be compassionate. If we see unjust or unnecessary anger, let us be peacemakers.
In all things, let us emulate Christ as far as we are able...and should we fall short, let us repent and try again. Jesus is ever willing to forgive us, to hear our prayers and to aid us in our walk; let us go to Him as our example and our helper! He will not fail us, nor forsake us. And as we go through each day, each hour, let us strive that His love, so richly poured upon us, is given to others by our actions and words. Let us love as He loves.
"A self indwelt by Jesus becomes like Him. “Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you.” Jesus has loved me to the end of all my meanness and selfishness and sin; now, He says, show that same love to others." Oswald Chambers, "Run Today's Race"
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
So that we might emulate Him
The soul touched by the redemptive and transformative love of Christ Jesus is marked forever; it is altered greatly from its original state. For with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the soul grows ever more in those virtues which God prizes and esteems.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
The person who has truly surrendered to Christ, calling Him Lord and Savior, will not be as the world's men and women; for what the reborn seeks will be a far cry from what the world rejoices in. The manner in which Christ's own carry themselves will be marked with the love and compassion of their Master, they will seek to emulate Him in all they can, even if they stumble at times.
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism," (Ephesians 4:1-32)
Is it your desire, friends, to be as much like Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for you, as you possibly can? Do you seek to walk as He did? Do you strive to live by His commands? Or do you cleave closer to the world than to He who can save you from the fate of the sinful soul? The world will only draw you down to mired filth; flee from that! The wages of sin are death, but those who are in Christ Jesus have eternal life.
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-5)
And as we abide ever deeper in the love and presence of Jesus, as our natures become more like His, we will find ourselves immersed in His peace; His love will pour from us in an increasingly natural way.
"Beloved, since we, then, are the people who say that we abide in him, it is upon us that the obligation of the text falls: we ought ourselves also so to walk even as he walked. A Bible ought has great weight with a conscientious man. Ought it to be so? Then it shall be so, God helping me. If we say we must do. If we talk, we must walk, or it will, be mere talk. If we make the profession of abiding in Christ, we must prove it by our practice of walking with Christ. If we say that we are in Christ and abide in him, we must take care that our life and character are conformed to Christ, or else we shall be making an empty boast. This is true of every man who says he is in Christ, for the text is put in the most general and absolute manner: be the man old or young, rich or poor, learned or simple, pastor or hearer, it is incumbent upon him to live like Christ if he professes to live in Christ." Charles Spurgeon "In Him: Like Him"
In our lives, friends, we come across choices by the hour, sometimes by the minute; in each choice then, let us resolve ourselves to try and choose to do whatever it may be in the spirit of Christ, so that we may honor Him with our lives. If we see someone in need, let us reach out and help. If we see a brother struggling, let us encourage and lift him up. If we see a woman who is hurting, let us be compassionate. If we see unjust or unnecessary anger, let us be peacemakers.
In all things, let us emulate Christ as far as we are able...and should we fall short, let us repent and try again. Jesus is ever willing to forgive us, to hear our prayers and to aid us in our walk; let us go to Him as our example and our helper! He will not fail us, nor forsake us. And as we go through each day, each hour, let us strive that His love, so richly poured upon us, is given to others by our actions and words. Let us love as He loves.
"A self indwelt by Jesus becomes like Him. “Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you.” Jesus has loved me to the end of all my meanness and selfishness and sin; now, He says, show that same love to others." Oswald Chambers, "Run Today's Race"
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
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