Pastor's Blog
God is good....all the time
Entry for February 24, 2009

I saw this bumper sticker on the back of a car today:


I LIKE YOUR CHRIST...


BUT I DON'T YOUR CHRISTIANS...


YOUR CHRISTIANS SHOULD ACT MORE LIKE YOUR CHRIST...


To make matters even worse, I looked up and right on the side of the rode was a huge billboard advertising Islam and offering any one who called or visited the website or called the toll free number a free Koran and free courses in the Islamic faith.  God seemed to speak to me through those circumstances, “If Christians don’t start acting like Christ, then the world is going to turn to false religions where the people, though seriously misguided, are more authentic than we are.” 


     The Apostle Paul had much to say about being imitators of Christ,


“And you become imitators of us and of the Lord…I Thessalonians 1.6a


“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  Ephesians 5


“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.  I Corinthians 11.1


It’s often been said, “If you want to be great, imitate the masters.”  Spiritualizing this a bit we can say, “If you want to others to be saved, imitate the Master.”


     As I examine my life I see how unlike Christ I really am.  Jesus said, “Come to Me…”  There are days when I would just as soon live alone on a desert island as to have one more person come to me with a problem.


Jesus said, “If you want to be great, then be the servant of all.”  I often get the attitude that the more people who jump at my every command, and the less I have to serve, the greater I am. 


     Jesus said, “I came to seek and to save the lost.”  There are days when I don’t even speak of Christ to anyone. 


 Jesus always took time to reach out to the sick, the needy, the children, the outcasts and the poor.  There are days, many days, when I pass these people by without offering a helping hand or encouragement.  And then I humbly admit,  there are days when I get it right (though I ashamedly admit I get it wrong more than right)  I act like Jesus would, I do what Jesus would do, I have the mind of Christ-and it feels good!  


     So will you commit with me to acting more like Christ each and every day?  Who knows maybe we can convince the world that we are who we claim to be and our actions will prove it.  Dialogue with me, how can you be more like Christ?  I’m offering a free study Bible for the responder who submits the most creative answer.  
































2009-02-24 23:37:17 GMT
Comments (5 total)
Author:Anonymous
This is about as uncreative as it comes, so that study bible "ain't gonna" be mine; however, I believe the best way to accomplish the task of becoming more Christ like it to study God's word, pray, and live the way God's word tells us.
2009-02-25 22:37:34 GMT
Author:Anonymous
I love to read and have read thousands of books. I learned to read at school.My mother said if there was nothing to read in the house I would probably read the telephone book. One book I remembering reading again and again while in junior and high school was The Tall Woman. It was about a lady who husband died during the civil war and she had to raise her family and run the family farm after his death.
My top 20 favorites, well I will have to think on that one.
--Mary JanerzF
2009-02-25 23:26:15 GMT
Author:Anonymous
I love to read and have read thousands of books. I learned to read at school.My mother said if there was nothing to read in the house I would probably read the telephone book. One book I remembering reading again and again while in junior and high school was The Tall Woman. It was about a lady who husband died during the civil war and she had to raise her family and run the family farm after his death.
My top 20 favorites, well I will have to think on that one.
--Mary JanerzF
2009-02-25 23:26:33 GMT
Author:Anonymous
To live like Christ is probably one of the most difficult things to do. Why? answers would probably vary by as many people who you ask, but I think deep down it is probably that most of us christians don't really realize what Christ actually did for us (die) and how important it really was. We not only need to read the Bible, but BELIEVE that it and the promises are true. If we truly believe, then it will make living like Christ easier. So the first task is to truly believe and then exercise the power of Christ that is in every believer. Now, I have to confess that these are not my original ideas but ones that have been brought up in our latest Sunday School lessons.

God bless,
Dean
2009-02-28 20:48:05 GMT
Author:Anonymous
Original or not, those are good thoughts and suggestions. It is so difficult sometimes to believe and practice that belief. I find that frequent examiniation of core beliefs is very important. Thanks Dean
--Tom
2009-03-01 22:12:47 GMT