Jesus Our Perfect Pattern
Here is something I read recently and it was so good I have just had to go and re-printed it here for you, and I Quote; “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6. We have before us the highest, holiest example. In thought, word, and deed, Jesus was sinless. Perfection marked all that He did. He points us to the path that He trod, saying, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24.
Christ unites in His person the fullness and perfection of the Godhead and the fullness and perfection of sinless humanity. He met all the temptations by which Adam was assailed, and overcame these temptations because in His humanity He relied upon divine power. This subject demands far more contemplation than it receives. Christians strike too low. They are content with a superficial spiritual experience, and therefore they have only the glimmerings of light, when … they might discern more clearly the wonderful perfection of Christ’s humanity, which rises far above all human greatness, all human power. Christ’s life is a revelation of what fallen human beings may become through union and fellowship with the divine nature.
Men and women frame many excuses for their proneness to sin. Sin is represented as a necessity, an evil that cannot be overcome. But sin is not a necessity. Christ lived in this world from infancy to manhood, and during that time He met and resisted all the temptations by which man is beset. He is a perfect pattern of childhood, of youth, of manhood. The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature. All that Christ received from God we too may have. Then ask and receive. . . . Let your life be knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus.” {FLB 219}
This is such great food for thought; that the concept actually continues on the very next page, which went on to say this, and I again quote; “Religion to be Supreme – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:37, 38. The youth need to realize that they need a deep experience in the things of God. A mere surface work will be of no benefit to them. You need to bring the light of God’s Word into your heart, that you may search it as with a lighted candle.
Many profess to be on the Lord’s side, but they are not; the weight of all their actions is on Satan’s side. By what means shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Upon whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are on the Lord’s side, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. We have no friendship with the world; we have consecrated all that we have and are to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.
Bible religion is not one influence among many others, but its influence is supreme, pervading and controlling every other influence. Bible religion is to exercise control over life and conduct. It is not to be like a dash of colour, brushed here and there upon the canvas, but its influence is to pervade the whole life, as though the canvas were dipped into colour until every thread of the fabric was dyed in a deep, fast, unfading hue.
The religion of Christ is a firm fabric, composed of innumerable threads, woven together with tact and skill. Only by the wisdom that God gives can we weave this fabric. Trusting to ourselves, we draw into it threads of selfishness, and the pattern is spoiled. Let everyone inquire seriously, “Am I a genuine Christian? Am I bearing the true marks of a Christian? Am I doing my best to perfect a character after the divine model?” Pure religion is an imitation of Christ.” {FLB 220}
What I found the most profound and thought provoking, was this Paragraph, “Many profess to be on the Lord’s side, but they are not; the weight of all their actions is on Satan’s side. By what means shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Upon whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are on the Lord’s side, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. We have no friendship with the world; we have consecrated all that we have and are to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.”
I guess the most pertinent question is, how does this paragraph really play out in my life? Which side of the fence do I actually represent, as we often meet people who claim one thing and act out the complete opposite? It is so easy to look at all the faults in everybody else and then to forget to turn around and to take a good look at our own lives and to see if we actually “Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk.” Maybe each one of us need to have some adjustment as to how we live and how we act, and to make sure that we actually really do clearly represent “Jesus Christ.”
