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In 1 John 2:6 "..whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked". In 1 Cor. 11:1 Jesus told His believers, "..be imitators of me, as I am of Christ". Don't be discouraged that in this day of time that it is harder to be like Christ because it is actually to our advantage as Christians to live in a world and a time such as this. Francis says, "Some believers today wish they could have lived in Old Testament times so they can experience God's power in the temple. Other believers wish they lived during Jesus' earthly ministry so they could speak to Jesus and see His miracles. Yet Jesus said that what we have now is better than either of those options." (Ch. 2 Pg. 53). John 16:7 simply states, "I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you."
We get to live in the best time of all, the waiting time for the Second Coming of Christ! We get to have the Holy Spirit dwell in us and experience a relationship with the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost!
Francis Chan goes on, "Jesus was clear that following Him meant – get this – following Him. The church has put so much effort into inventing a new form of following Christ that doesn't require imitating Him. We teach that even though Jesus allowed His rights to be trampled, we should fight for ours. We teach that even though Jesus lived simply, we have the right to live luxuriously(some prefer the term "comfortably"). Even as we teach that Jesus was rejected by the world, we pursue popularity. Ever wonder how many followers of Jesus would have on Twitter? Or how many "likes" his Facebook post would receive?" (Ch. 3 Pg. 66-67)
So look at your life, not through your own lens but of Jesus Christ. Little or big decisions think about what Christ would do and follow that decision. Would He watch the movie 50 Shades of Grey, would He gossip, would He even sin? It is a struggle against the flesh everyday. But Romans 8:5-11 "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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the night of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flash is hostile to God for just not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the bodies dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal body through His Spirit who dwells in you."
Furthermore break the chains of your pride, selfishness, and desire and beliefs that you "deserve" more. "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to what you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18.
And remember, if the world seems against you, God is always for you. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you... Remember the world that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." John 15:18,20.
With Love,
Mildred
Inspired by the book "You and Me Forever" by Francis and Lisa Chan.
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