As I sat in my quiet time the other day, I thought, “I want, I need, to be more like Christ.”  Then I thought, what’s that even mean?  To BE more like Christ; not ACT more like Christ.  Can “who He is” be separated from “what He did”?

Usually when we think about being more like Christ, we think about things Jesus did.  Acting lovingly toward people.  Forgiving.  Healing.  Blessing.  Teaching.  Praying.  Doing what the Father showed Him.  Sacrificing Himself.  But these are all things He did.

An oak tree isn’t an oak tree because it has leaves and acorns, and provides shade.  It has leaves and acorns, and provides shade because it’s an oak tree.  A tree can’t be more of a tree than it is.

He was, is, the Father’s son by nothing that He did.  And a child can’t be more of a child.  Romans 8:16-17 says, as a child of God, I am an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ.  Either one is an heir or he’s not.  In Christ, I am the righteousness of God.  I can’t be more righteousness.  In John 17:21 Jesus prayed that all who believe in Him “may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.”  How can one be more of One?  Should I quit trying to be more like Christ?

Jesus was God’s gift to the world.  And a gift is a gift whether it is unwrapped or not.  It’s up to the receiver to recognize where the gift came from and take advantage of it.  So, to be more like Christ, I have to give more of myself, and show Who sent me.

Can I be anyone’s Savior?  No.  Can I be more of a gift to others?  Yes.  Will I?