(J.R. Miller, “Things That Endure”)
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“That the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10
It is important that we should understand how we are to manifest the life of Jesus in our own life. Because it is not enough to talk about Him since there are those with silver tongue who speak of Jesus eloquently and winsomely. Also, it cannot be said, even in widest charity, that Jesus’ life is relived in them.
We need more gospels in the lives of Christians so that others see something of Christ in our own life.
What was this life of Jesus, which is to be repeated in every Christian life? Because Its great central characteristic was love . . .
love full of compassion,
and serving even to the lowliest degree and at the greatest cost.
love which was patient, forgiving, thoughtful, gentle,
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. 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 and 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. Because they tell the story of the love, serving, and sacrifice–they made her what she was since the lines are 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.
THEY MUST SEE THE CROSS IN OUR OWN LIFE
It is not enough that we point others to a historic cross standing on Calvary because they must see the cross in our own life. And 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. So 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
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