Ephesians 4:15
“but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
The last times in Ephesians we addressed growing up. Today we'll write about what we will grow up to be, like Christ. I recall witnessing to a friend and he didn't like that christians were to be all the same, like Christ. It didn't feel right, but I couldn't explain why.
To be like Christ doesn't mean our personalities change. We all have that uniqueness. The humorous remain so, the focused remain so, the happy are still happy and so on.
Then what part of Christ do we become? We can look at several places, I Corinthians 13, Galatians 5 and the gospels. The entire bible also provides pictures of Christ. I Corinthians 13 speaks of love. Verses 4-7 say, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Jesus was all this.
Isaiah 42:3 gives us a picture of this, "A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." We are all bruised reeds and smoldering wicks from time to time. I can't see how a bruised reed can be repaired, but He can. I'm not sure if He splints it or surrounds it with sturdy reeds to support it or just heals it.
A bruised reed seems worthless. It's an analogy of us. We may feel insignificant. In the big picture, we are. However, He greatly values us. We would be amazed at how much He loves us. David says in Psalm 139:17, 18a, "How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand."
This is love. He wants us to be this to others. We are to value that which the world doesn't, the lowly people. We are to cup the smoldering wick to keep it alive. This can be uncomfortable, as it may take time for the candle to build a sustaining flame. People take time. The world would call this a waste, particularly if they are lowly. We are to see it as all important in the moment God gives us. That's being Christlike.
The next passage where we get some great descriptions is Galatians 5. Verses 22 & 23 say, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Those of His day sought to trap Him by bringing one caught in adultery. He knew they were using her as bait. He didn't play along, but turned the tables on them. They went away one by one until He was left alone with her. He said in John 8:10 & 11, '"And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer."' She was expendable to them, but not to Jesus. It would have been nice to hear about her and how her life ended up. Many of us have had wonderful interventions from Jesus. He saved us in more ways than one.
God wants to use us to help others. It may or may not be dramatic. Most come into our lives as humble and small. We are to act as if they are the most important in the world at that moment. This can be difficult as at times they are difficult. But He is patient with us, so we are to be with others.
Lord, thank You for caring for us. Help us to mature into You and care for others.