I have an ongoing project on Christian growth that examines parallels between our growth with what Luke 2:52 says about Jesus’ growth…..one of the pitfalls of discipling others and evangelism as “church” Christians is that people expect us to be in the mold and pattern of their (mostly limited) perspective on the character and attributes of and purpose for which Jesus Christ came. Hard as we try, people are going to experience disappointment in their expectations of other people, Christian or not, at times and then it’s “game on”, they are all exercised to dismiss the one that “let them down” and didn’t live into “being like Jesus.” I do not claim any righteousness in my own self but only what has been granted by God’s grace because of my response to His love by faith in Jesus Christ and to the extent that He lives in and through me and my own flesh is restrained by surrender to His Holy Spirit. I am a broken vessel, not perfect, and quite capable of being wrong and making mistakes. This is why I have pointed out again and again that the Bible tells us to vest our trust in God, not people….We trust God; we love and forgive people…..But because I have the Holy Spirit within, He convicts me and leads me into repentance, confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation….( 3 slides included)
If you’re looking to me, I will again and again invite you to turn your eyes upon Jesus. He is the only true standard and solitary example any one of us can look to without risk of disappointment or failure. When my behavior is incompatible with following Him, I invite you to tell me how I can change to better follow Him.
