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Christ our example
I haven’t done any painting for some time now, but when I did I often would look for a picture [such as a calendar or a photograph I had taken] to use as an example. This is also a good method for Christians to follow; I.e. look for a pattern or an example by which to live your life here upon earth. We have such an example in Jesus Christ, the Son of God: Heb. 7:26 “For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Notice if you will that our example is “holy” He is “harmless” and “undefiled”. Is this not an example worthy for Christians to imitate? Furthermore, as Christ ascended unto heaven He was “separated from sinners”. Is this not also what Christians are seeking; don’t we long for the day when we will be “separated from sinners” to dwell in eternal heaven where there will be no sin of any kind? Following Jesus, as our example is the message of the apostle John: 1Jn. 2:6 “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” I would like to give a partial list of the ways in which we are to imitate our example. One example that Jesus left for us is “love”: Eph. 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,” To imitate Jesus in love may even require of us a severe sacrifice: 1Jn. 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.” You don’t have to be a scholar to recognize that Jesus was humble: Phi. 2:7 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” A little humility will go a long way for others to recognize the life of Christ in your life! Meekness is another characteristic of Christ’s life we should be seen in our lives if we are truly following the example left by Christ: Matt. 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” I understand the “rest for our souls” to be an eternal rest; but I also feel that we will get along better with mankind while we sojourn upon this earth if we are meek! Self-denial is something that will be hard for many to follow Christ’s example; nonetheless, it is something that must be done: Matt. 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”. Finally, we must follow the example of Jesus’ obedience: Jn. 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love”.
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