Our conception of Christlikeness,
J. R. Miller, Things that Endure,
that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body, 2 Corinthians
4.10. Many lives of Christ have been
written, but in every Christian life there should be a new one
published. It is these lives which are needed,
written not in handsomely bound volumes with fine paper and gilt
edges, and with attractive illustrations, but in men's daily lives. It
is important that we should understand how we are to manifest the life
of Jesus in our own life. It is not enough to talk about
Him. There are those who with silver
tongue can speak of Jesus eloquently and winsomely, of whom it cannot
be said, even in widest charity, that Jesus' life is relived in
them. We need more gospels in the lives
of Christians. Others need to see something
of Christ in our own life. What was this life of Jesus,
which is to be repeated in every Christian life? Its great central
characteristic was love, love full of compassion, love serving
even to the lowliest degree and at greatest cost. love which
was patient, forgiving, thoughtful, gentle, love unto the uttermost,
which went to a cross to save sinners. When we think of being
like Christ, we are apt to gather out a few gentle qualities, and
let these make up our conception of Christlikeness. True, He was
a kindly man, a patient, quiet man. He was thoughtful, compassionate,
and selfish, loving. But we must not forget that the
cross is the truest symbol of the life of Jesus. An artist
was trying to improve on a dead mother's portrait. He wanted
to take out the lines in her face, but the woman's son said
it would not be a true portrait of his mother if the lines were
effaced. They told the story of the love,
serving, and sacrifice which made her what she was, The lines
were themselves the truest features in the whole portrait. Just so,
no picture of Jesus is true which leaves out the marks of love's
cost, the print of the nails, the memorials of his suffering.
It is not enough that we point others to a historic cross standing
on Calvary far back in the centuries. They must see the cross in our
own life. When we speak to our neighbors
of the pity of Jesus, His eager desire to save the lost, His
giving of His life as a ransom. They must see all this in us. This is the manifesting of Jesus,
for which we are sent into the world. Jesus must enter our hearts
and live out His own blessed life in us. Christ suffered for
you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2.21