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Pictures of Jesus?
"And they took knowledge of them, that
they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13
(by Charles Spurgeon)
A Christian should be a striking likeness of
Jesus Christ. You have read 'lives of Christ',
beautifully and eloquently written; but the
best life of Christ is His living biography,
written out in the words and actions of His
people.
If we were what we profess to be, and
what we should be, we would be pictures
of Jesus; yes, such striking likenesses of
Him, that the world would, when they once
beheld us, exclaim, "He has been with Jesus;
he has been taught of Him; he is like Him;
he has caught the very idea of the holy Man
of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life
and daily actions."
A Christian should be like Christ in his
boldness. Never blush to own your religion.
Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God.
Imitate Him in your loving spirit; think kindly,
speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may
say of you, "He has been with Jesus!"
Imitate Jesus in His holiness.
Was He zealous? So be ever going about
doing good. Let not time be wasted; it is
too precious.
Was He self-denying, never looking
to His own interest? Be the same.
Was He devout? Be fervent in your prayers.
Had He deference to His Father's will?
So submit yourselves to Him.
Was He patient? So learn to endure.
And best of all, as the highest portraiture
of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as
He did; and let those sublime words of your
Master, "Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do," always ring in your ears.
Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Good
for evil, recollect, is godlike.
Be godlike, then; and in all ways and
by all means, so live that all may say
of you, "He has been with Jesus!"
"And they took knowledge of them, that
they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13
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