WHO ARE YOU? WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 2:5)

MEDITATION:
If someone asked you whose life you would like to mimic,
how would you answer them? The one we would like to
imitate is a good indication of not only who we are, but
also the kind person we would like to be.

We should think about the positives of the one we want to be like.
What are their positive characteristics and how will our life be
improved by developing those same characteristics? We should
also consider the negatives of the one we want to be like. What
are their negative characteristics and will they be detrimental
to us and the person we would like to be?

When we want to be like someone else, we need to weigh the
entire individual, including the bad with the good. Will our
life improve or get worse if we adopt the characteristics and
habits of someone else?

More importantly, we should ask ourselves if developing the
characteristics of another person will increase our fellowship
with the Lord. That is the best measuring stick for anything
we think or do, isn’t it? We may like the charisma and/or the
talents that someone else has, but our main concern should be,
what changes should we make in our lives that will increase our
fellowship with the Lord.

It’s not about what can improve the short time we live here on earth,
it’s about what will be best for us eternally. The best thing we can do
is look past the attractive traits in others and focus on developing a
pure heart. When we have a pure heart, we can be confident that we
will have pure motives, pure desires, and pure actions.

Purity of heart is a giant step toward becoming more like Christ.
The more we mimic Jesus, the more we will please God. God wants
those who profess to be followers of Jesus to be conformed to the
image of His Son.

When we become more like Christ, we create a desirable environment
for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It may mean that we will have
to change in many ways, but what a great reason to choose Jesus as
our model, and for us to have a desire to become like Him in all we
do and say.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – What are the characteristics of Jesus that I need to imitate?
    – What habits, words, thoughts,
       and attitudes of mine should I replace with His?
    – What does a meaningful relationship with the Lord mean to me?
    – What am I willing to give up so I can
       improve my relationship and fellowship with the Lord?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the example Your Son established
for me to follow. Show me the importance of having the same type
of characteristics and attitude as Jesus. Help me to purge my life of
unrighteousness and fill the voids with His righteousness. Guide me
Lord, in developing the same mindset as Jesus. I know that when I
have His mindset, my usefulness to You will be much better as I live
now, and I can look forward to spending an eternity with You when
my life is over. Cleanse my heart and make it a clean home for Your
Holy Spirit to thrive within me. Thank You for sanctifying me so I
can become the person You created me to be and follow Your plan
for my life.”

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