The word “Christian” means “follower of Christ” and as the Apostle John points out, we should literally follow in His footsteps. “By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:5-6).

We can identify Christians by their conversations, their actions, the way they live, and their pleasure in displaying Christ like characteristics; (a person of God). A believer’s spirit is one with Christ, the old man has died and the new man lives in Him (Galatians 2:20). The flesh fights this ongoing transformation, however. The Apostle Paul describes his own experience with this in (Romans 7:14-25), saying “I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Romans 22-23). Christ’s sacrifice for us made us holy, but that sanctification is exposed over time (Hebrews 10:10, 14). Sin robs us of our peace, but being in Christ means we have been saved from sin, and we no longer must live according to its whims (1 Corinthians 15:56-57; (Romans 6:6-14).

We will be happier, and more at peace, if we strive to walk as Jesus walked. Much of the writings of the New Testament are encouraging believers toward this goal. The world’s temporary fix is to enjoy the extravagance our flesh lusts for in the futility of our minds. (“Give the people what they want”)!

But the spirit man cries out, “Father anoint me to glorify You through my actions; help me be a better me by being one in You”.

In Christ our Lord,

02/28/17