Do we think earnestly about being like Him here and now?

(J.R. Miller, "The Religion for the New Year" 1903)

"So that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive." Titus 2:10

Martin Luther's insignia was a rose; in the rose a heart; in the heart a cross.

The rose suggests fragrance and beauty — a Christian life should be beautiful, winning, attractive. It should be sweet, pouring forth the fragrance of holy love wherever it goes.

The heart in the rose suggests that all true living for Christ is from the heart.

But at the center of all was the cross. Until we have Christ, we can have neither fragrance nor beauty. We must never forget that nothing but the self-sacrificing love of Christ in our hearts can transform our lives.

We sometimes sing, "Take the world, but give me Jesus" — but do we really mean it? It is a very sweet hymn, but do we mean it? Are we ready to have the prayer answered, fully, wholly — whatever it may cost?

We expect to be like Christ in Heaven, but do we think earnestly about being like Him here and now? Would we exchange our poor, meager measure of Christlikeness today — for Christ to have the complete control of our lives? It would make a tremendous change in our lives, at least, in some of our lives.

"If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23