Like Jesus

I know that I am not alone in expressing that I am elated that this political campaigning season is over. Now, I realize that the end of the campaigns does not mean an end to the madness. But, at least, things settle down a wee bit. Praise the Lord for that.

What bothers me most about the whole thing is how seasons such as we are in right now in our country tend to bring out the absolute worst in people. Our basest instincts are often—and unfortunately—on display in these moments. We too frequently get caught up in the sturm and drang of the throng, and therefore we act out in ways that are far too “natural.” That is, we revert to human nature, instead of remembering that we are saved. And, we can forget that, because of our salvation, we are being molded by the Spirit into people who live not by our original nature, but instead by the Spirit-led nature that God is instilling in us in Jesus Christ.

We sometimes get lost in the storm and stress of life and its circumstances, so we lash out and roar. We use language that we should not use. We act in ways that we should not act. We even disregard the truth that everyone around us—EVERYONE—is a human being made in the image of God. The fact that others may have different beliefs, different ways of living, different ways of interacting, and different choices does not negate the fact that each is a person made by God. All of us—ALL OF US—are of infinite value to the Creator of the universe. The reality of Jesus Christ and his perfect sacrifice confirms this. He died for everyone. Regardless.

Those of us who are in Christ have been gifted a great blessing. It is an eternal blessing, in fact. We have been mercifully granted real life in this world. Better still, we are promised eternal life with God in the world to come. We also have been given great responsibility. Here is a hard truth: when we came to Christ in faith, we came also as participants in his mission in the world. We agreed to take part in a holy task.

That task is to be the image of Christ in our community. That task is to love like Jesus. That task is to show mercy like Jesus. That task is to give up what we may otherwise or beforehand had thought was ours and ours alone (time, resources, effort, etc.) for the sake of our fellow human beings. Like Jesus. That task is to engage with the world around us in holy, godly, and merciful ways. Like Jesus. It is not to claim our correctness or uprightness in this arena or that. Rather, we are to walk into the lives of others for the specific purpose of showing them by our language and our actions that we are the people of God. We do not shy away from the truth of God, of course. We are called, however, to set aside ourselves in the act of displaying at every turn the great love of God as it came to all of us in Jesus Christ. ALL OF US.

Jesus says a few words about this, as you know. My favorite, “Do this, and you will live.” Yes, Lord Jesus. Help us to be like you in this world. Help us to live. Like Jesus.

–Ricky