If you are anything like me when you hear someone say "Be Jesus", "Be the image of God" I think loving the unlovable and being nice to everyone. Those things are true but it is so much deeper than that.
The other day in class I was thanking one of my teachers for being respectful of her students and she said, "of course! Do some teachers not respect you?" I said, "No, therefore if they cant respect me I will not respect them." She responded with, "Jesus stills respects those people." Whoa. So true. I was thrown back by her comment and it was very eye opening.
Personally, when someone hurts me or throws my heart on the side of the road I get mad and I dont want to talk them ever again because of the pain they have caused me. If someone hurts me and they dont realize it I start waiting for an apology and hold anger against them till they have realized it. How many times could God do that to us? Every day God could forget us and say you have hurt me so many times that im done with you. I will not love you anymore. Go on your way. Or he could easily say you still havent apologized for that one night or that one sin so im done pursuing you and hold anger towards us. Here is the thing, He doesnt do that.
God keeps pursuing me when I dont reflect him in the best ways. He still loves me. He still wants the best for me. When I havent asked for forgivness yet, he makes me white as snow. He never leaves when I dont do my best for him. Praise God for that.
Abba God,
Transform me to be more like you and I mean really like you. Take every part of my life and my thoughts and consume them. Overcome my flesh and fill me up with you. I want to be a true reflection of you.
"Let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am Holy; you be Holy." -1 Peter 1:15-16 (MSG)
