Don't "Be Me" - Be Christ

Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” [Numbers 14.1-9]

Two differing opinions are presented here. The two different opinions presented here very much portray two different opinions prevalent in the world today.

God has made promises to those who submit to Him. God will do whatever it takes to fulfill those promises even if it means overriding natural laws.

There are those who believe God will do what He has said and those who do not.

The sad truth is, many of these people attend the same churches!

What are congregations of God's people if they are not places that reveal and demonstrate God?

If the Church is indeed the Body of Christ. should it not 'look' like Him? Should it not act like Him? Should it not heal like Him? Should it not feed multitudes like Him?

I mean, the best description we have of Christ, Who's body we are, is found in the New Testament Gospels. What do they say about Him, our Head? They say He preached the Good News, focused on the Kingdom of God, taught the ways of God, healed the sick, fed the multitudes and raised the dead.

If we were going to identify the church by its characteristics, what would we call it? Jesus? A social club?

You see, we identify a bird by it color, its physique, its bill, and many other characteristics. There is no doubt that a Robin is a Robin. But what about the church? Does it match all the characteristics of Christ?

The children of Israel were given enough information and experiences to this point to know God and to know how He acted. They had the choice to look and act like Him ... or not. They (most of them) didn't.

We have been given enough information and experiences to this point to know Jesus (God) and to know how He acted. We have the choice to look and act like Him ...or not. Are we?

Ouch, ouch, ouch.

Father, I am convicted that looking and acting like anything but Christ is sin. I am compelled, not to "be me" but to "be Christ!"