Imitators of Christ

Romans 13:14 NIV

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

When I think about the desires of the sinful nature, I first think of selfishness – Me, Me, Me!  What I want, what I need, what I think, what I feel, what I demand!  But Jesus teaches LOVE, generosity, forgiveness, peacemaking – the opposites of selfishness.

Jesus is loving and kind and generous.  He is calm, prayerful and a thousand more good and lovely things!  If I am clothing myself with Jesus, I am trying to look like Him. 

When I was a little girl, I loved playing dressing, wearing costumes and pretending to be a cowboy or Tarzan, or a fairytale princess.  I would play for hours in the role of these characters.  And when my children were growing up, dress up and pretend was a constant part of our playtime.  I have wonderful memories of all the fairies, superheroes, and fantasy characters my children became in playtime.

And actually, when I think of dressing up, I think of the characters we represent or pretend to be in our day-to-day lives.  We might represent a sports fan, decked out in team colors, or a hiker with a backpack, boots, and poles.  We might be golfers in cleats, carrying a bag of clubs.  We might be a businessperson dressed in a nice professional suit, carrying a briefcase.

There are hundreds of other “costumes” that we wear on a regular basis, according to where we are going and what we will be doing there.  It’s like the saying – “The clothes make the man and the woman.” 

But our dear Lord Jesus hung with no clothes, there on that cross as he allowed the soldiers to crucify him.  He made no hate speech when the crowds jeered and mocked him, as he walked to Calvary, carrying his cross, the instrument of His torture.  When others reviled him – he forgave them.  They called Him names and spit on him.  But he trudged on up the hill, leaving a trail of blood and tears – all the way to the Cross.  And when hanging there dying, alone and in anguish, he prayed – “Father forgive them.”

If we are clothed in Jesus, our attitude and disposition must represent to the world that we are Jesus.  We must emulate him – walking the road of life, sometimes sad and bleeding; often surrounded by hateful, mocking voices.  Yet we must not return the hate speech!

We must be strong, remain calm, and make no evil, angry replies.  We must wear Jesus and LOVE our enemies.  We must pray for them. 

 

Take some time to think about when you feel clothed in Christ.  Notice the times when you don’t.  Learn to put Him on as you begin your day and if you forget or lose Him, pick Him up and wrap yourself in Him again and again!

Let’s pray together now…

Dear God – Help me to be clothed in Jesus!  Help me to pray as Jesus did and to forgive those who make me angry or persecute me or hate me. Help me to forgive my enemies and to LOVE as you LOVE.  Show me that wearing Jesus makes this easy!  And in His name we pray.  Amen!

 

This devotional was written and recorded by Bernice Howard.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.