Category Archives: Life of Jesus

To Win Favor

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In yesterday’s blog we watched one-year-old Emerald successfully learn to polish window glass by imitating her Aunt Louisa. There’s a certain amount of pressure in knowing young children are watching us carefully, wanting to do what we do. It serves us well, though, since the result is a desire to live “cleaner” in front of them.

Setting the TableI think of my granddaughter Skylar who was all into imitating her mommy the last time I visited her in Florida. Although she knew she couldn’t do everything her mother did with the same expertise, she could set the table for dinner, which was what she did.

Yesterday we wondered if we could imitate Jesus (our example) in the same simple way. Is such a thing possible? Or is it so far out of reach we shouldn’t even to try?

When I asked God for his answer, he reminded me of Jesus’ humanity. “Human…. just like you,” he said, “so yes, try to imitate him.”

The only thing to do was “watch” the life of Jesus to see what I could  imitate. Maybe it would be as simple as wiping a window or setting a table.

Here’s what I found:

  • He spent time studying Scripture, memorizing much it.
  • He separated himself from the pack of people continually following him, to carve out prayer time.
  • He lived simply, denying himself the creature comforts of his day.
  • He followed through on commitments.
  • He didn’t try to control people but asked questions, listening attentively for the answers.
  • He was willing to take risks with the establishment if it meant he could testify for God’s kingdom.
  • He humbled himself before others.
  • He never chafed under the burden of being an example to watching eyes.
  • He was quick to forgive.
  • He kept himself from complaining, even when he had reason to do so.
  • He endured hardship with patience.
  • He tolerated hunger.
  • He obediently stepped into God’s assignments for him, even tough ones.
  • He proactively resisted all kinds of temptation.
  • He accepted God’s call on his life.

Those are 15 straightforward ways any of us can imitate Jesus’ example. And if it would be easier to operate by one underlying principle that applies in every situation, he gives us that, too. He made decisions and successfully moved through his complicated life by using one Golden Standard to apply in every questionable situation:

Would he find favor with God?

Emerald and Skylar wanted to find favor with an aunt and a mommy, imitating them as their way to get it. The human Jesus wanted the same from his heavenly Father. And as the rest of us seek God’s favor by imitating Jesus, we too will find it.

“The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” (1 John 2:6)

An Imitation

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Although our house is small, it has lots of windows. That’s mostly because of 12 across the back of the house, both downstairs and upstairs. Though I have no knowledge of decorating or styling a home, God is a pro at beautifying his world, and lots of windows lets us hitch onto what he’s done by inviting the outdoors in. But it’s a big job to keep 45 windows clean.

I’m grateful for Louisa, our chief window-washer in recent years, and now she’s got a mini-apprentice: little Emerald Louisa, someone else I’m very thankful for.

Receiving instructionThe other day I watched from a distance as Louisa patiently tutored her trainee, showing her how to use a squeegee and rag. Emerald watched her teacher once and immediately got down on the polishing part. As she wiped the glass, she’d occasionally glance back at her teacher to see if she was watching…. and approving. Once in a while she’d stop to pat her pudgy hands together in self-applause. She was proud of successfully imitating her Auntie Weezi.

Children are always watching, and much of their learning is accomplished through imitating. That’s why it’s critical to measure everything we do (and say) against a high standard. When babies comes along, most adults work overtime to clean up their examples, which ends up being good for both groups.

The question is, where do we find the right standard? Is there a way to appropriately measure what’s acceptable and what isn’t?

Gold measuring stickWhen my siblings and I were growing up, Mom steadily promoted the Bible as the Gold Standard of behavior. (Dad agreed, though was less “preachy” about it.) Mom would say, “The Bible is a measuring rod for life. Live by its principles and you’ll always do the right thing.”

It was a mouthful, especially that part about “living by its principles,” but her idea was sound, offering a gauge by which we could measure behavior, especially when we became parents modeling values in front of little ones.

As difficult as it might seem, God wants us to model our lives after the example of the “star” of the Bible, Jesus. It isn’t so we can win his approval but is for two other lofty purposes: (1) to lead satisfying, purposeful lives, and (2) to represent him well as his followers. We know we can’t be clones of Jesus, since he was sinless and we aren’t. But there are parts of his life we can imitate.

ImitatingCan we imitate him the same way Emerald imitated Louisa? Could it possibly be that simple?

Tomorrow we’ll find out.

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Out of the Blue

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LGLPPRecently I received a gift out of the blue from Tina, one of my blog readers. It was a high quality t-shirt of sky-blue, boasting a powerful one-liner:

Love God. Love People. Period.

Tina and her husband have similar shirts in their wardrobes, and she thought I would enjoy wearing the same simple but potent message. The t-shirts (and other gift products) originated from a man named Eddie, who was looking for an uncomplicated way to share his faith. The inspiration for his straightforward message was Matthew 22:37-39:

“When Jesus was asked by a lawyer which was the greatest of all the commandments, he replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’.” 

Eddie took Jesus’ words and distilled them down to a couple of short sentences along with a “period” for emphasis. His desire was that this not be just a clever slogan but a way to tell strangers of the hope that was within him.

Eddie passed away in 2012 at age 58, but his shirts continue to speak the Gospel in a clean, no-nonsense way. His prayer had been that the “LGLPP” products would continue reminding Christians what they stand for, while creating opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Tina wrote, “We appreciate the simplicity of the words and the direct but subtle responses we get in various airports and on planes from people thankful for the ‘short and sweet’ one liner message.”

She and her husband have discovered that along with those who are curious about the shirt’s message, there are others in anonymous crowds who readily agree with what it says. “Hey! I like your shirt,” some say. And others give a thumbs-up approval.

US Supreme CourtBelievers in Christ can feel muzzled these days. For example, last week’s news reported that the Supreme Court will determine whether or not prayer in public places (graduations, town hall meetings, board meetings) is ok, and if the content of those prayers ought to be monitored. One journalist said 80% of public prayer to this point has been Christian, but now that must change. The Court will rule in mid-2014.

So far, though, wearing the LGLPP shirts is still ok. As Tina put it, “We’re wearing outside of our hearts, what’s in them. Hopefully loving God and loving his people will never go out of style.”

LGLPP.Tina’s gift made me question how faithfully I’ve been a public witness to my personal belief in Christ. Have I done as well as Tina and her husband? Or as Eddie?

“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)