If we liken our lives to an unfolding drama, living the gospel amounts to being cast in the role of Jesus in every scene we are asked to play. His teachings become our lines, His attitudes become our response. His wrestling through to obedience, His willingness to sacrifice, and His taking up His cross are the story lines we strive to portray, for we are His disciples. Our sole ambition is to be like Him to the greatest degree possible.
When I speak of life in this way, I do not mean that we are merely play acting. While we are not substituting for Christ who uniquely died to live the gospel, yet we are following His pattern in ways the Bible clearly commands. We are not pulling mythical ideas out of the air. Instead, we are displaying a new way of living because there is in all the universe one living Savior who has become our consuming passion. And this is true only because we first became His passion.
The highest reward for following Jesus is living His resurrection life, which is eternal and dynamic, and the fulfillment of our purpose for existence. Our greatest honor is to have fellowship with the risen Son of God in which our spirits dwell together with Him.
Our goal should be to find the Jesus role in every situation, large or small, and fulfill it in dependence on His Spirit. Imagine what your life would be like as you do that. Think of what your families and church would be like. Your experience would not be easier. In fact, it would be impossible for you to depict the character of Jesus if everything went smoothly all of the time. No, to exemplify your Master requires that you encounter scenes in Gethsemane and Golgotha. The role calls for false accusation and betrayal. Without a crisis of wills you would never cry, “Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.†Without opponents you would never pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.†Only with these extreme challenges can you manifest the Christ who forgave His enemies, paid the penalty of all our sin, and rose from death!
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