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Friday, November 21, 2008

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Dare We Compare?

The other day, I read a quote from an 18th century Irish poet named Oliver Goldsmith, who said, "People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy."  It got me thinking.  If I only look at myself and how I am doing, I will probably give myself a fairly good grade.  A passing grade for sure and more than likely toward the higher end of the scale.  Oh, I might admit occasionally that there may be some places where I could improve a little bit here or there but, by and large, don't most of us feel pretty okay most days?  We certainly won't challenge ourselves too much and certainly not beyond what would be comfortable.  Compared to myself, I think I am doing just fine!

At other times, we may compare ourselves to others.  The entire fashion industry depends on this.  Something new comes out and we must have it so that we measure up or maybe we have to have it first so that we can be the trend-setter.  We wouldn't want to be out of style or somehow less up to date than someone else.  Then, we must continue to read the latest business publications so that we stay competitive in the field where we find ourselves.  We are always looking for the edge or advantage over all of the others whether they be from our competition or within our own company.  Comparing, comparing, always comparing.  These are just a couple of examples.  But, even here, I think that our tendency is always in the direction of comparing ourselves to those whom we consider to be beneath us or in some way inferior.  We want self preservation, not to be found inferior in some way.  And, when we do compare ourselves to someone who has more money or brains or more of some other thing, we will likely always find some area in which they are lacking and where we imagine that we excel.  This is human nature.  We have a need to feel okay about how we are doing.

It is one of the things I think that makes Christianity difficult.  Here too, I may be tempted only to look at myself and how I think that I am doing.  I may list off all of the Christian things that I do and figure that I am doing pretty well.  Or, I may look at others in the church that I attend and find all of the things that they do wrong and I do right and once more, give myself a really good grade on the Christian report card.  Remember the Pharisee who prayed and thanked God that he was not like the other man (Luke 18:11-12)?  Neither of these evaluations will count for much in eternity.  True Christianity would call us higher.  If we are going to compare ourselves to anyone, we are to compare ourselves to the first "Christ"ian:

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done" (John 13:15).

Jesus is the one and only one to whom we should compare ourselves.  And the moment that I do that, I recognize that I am a dismal failure.  I have heard it said that we are to be like Jesus more times than I can count.  I know that I have even said it myself on more than one occasion.  It was kind of even popular a few years ago with everyone wearing WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets.  Did anyone really do it?  Maybe here and there, but consistently?  And then, I read Jesus words and he says things like, "Be holy as I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16), or that, "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these" (John 14:12)!  And, I am tempted to despair and say, Lord, you know me, how can it be?  Maybe I will just give up, become like everyone else, and certainly not compare myself to Jesus anymore!  Satan would certainly be thrilled if we all did that!

It is true, because Jesus said it, that, "apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).  But, it is equally true that with him, we can do anything (Philippians 4:13).  Jesus said that he could actually do nothing by himself (John 5:30)!  What he could do, he could do only because of his intimate relationship with the Father and he talks often about this secret of being "in Him" (John 17:21 and many other places).  Jesus lived his whole life in God and God lived in him.  Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.  And we have the exact same opportunity as he did.  To be in the Father and him in us.  To be in Jesus and him in us.  To be in the Holy Spirit and him in us.

Dare we compare ourselves with Jesus?  Can I possibly do that?  Jesus prayed for all us disciples, "that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them" (John 17:26).  If he himself is in us, when God looks in our direction, what by grace does he see?  "This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).  Paul says that our relationship to Christ is one of surpassing greatness and that being found in him, "not having a righteousness of my own . . . but that which is through faith in Christ" (Philippians 3:8-9), we find ourselves becoming like him.  We were sinners.  We were enemies of God.  We fell far short of the glory of God.  But now, in Christ, "we are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).  This was God's plan all along.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose . . . to be conformed to the likeness of his Son . . . What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31).

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