JOHN SHIRK ggIn the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to be an Imitator of God.

Our parents, church leaders, and teachers all have their places of authority in our lives. When they fulfill their God-given roles, they can help us to learn, grow, and thrive in tremendous ways. But our ultimate leader is Jesus. He showed us the way to live in a way that pleases God.

Ephesians 5:1 says, “Follow God’s example, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Elsewhere Philippians 2 urges us to have the attitude of Christ in our relationships with each other.  Even though he was in very nature God, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Having the attitude of Christ is a strong magnet to draw many people to the living God.

Being an Imitator of God is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Philippians 2:5.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

Being in very nature God, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

The mindset of Jesus was not pride, but humility.

His mindset was to obey the will of His Father, and to die as a sacrifice for our sins. This is the way of Jesus, which transforms our attitude from having selfish tendencies to look for service opportunities. This holiday season, think about how to reach out to someone in need with the mindset of a servant. Then, go do it.

Through Jesus, we are set free to pursue the attitude of Christ in the way we handle relationships.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com