Oh, to be like Christ

Morning and Evening

Charles H. Spurgeon

February 11, 2011

Morning Reading

Acts 4:13--Acts 4:13

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 should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking
likenesses of Him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the
hour together, and say, "Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;" but
they 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
every-day actions." A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness.
Never blush to own your religion; your profession will never disgrace
you: take care you never disgrace that. 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 for His Master?
So be you; ever go 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 you 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. Heap coals of fire on the head of your foe by your
kindness to him. 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."