by Carol Gustke

Created on: May 28, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2009

A Christian's understanding of how to be like Christ, has in my opinion, caused a great deal of unnecessary guilt and condemnation. We are urged to turn the other cheek, love our enemies, always forgive, go the extra mile, and rejoice in tribulation. These are but a few expectations we face as Christians.

Thousands have attempted to be like Christ and failed miserably. Many double their efforts, while others throw up their hands and walk away. There seems to be in most Christian circles, a shroud of heaviness which surrounds them, beating them down for not measuring up to "the standard."

If, during a Bible study, or prayer meeting, someone we regard as more spiritual than us, confesses a particular weakness or sin, we all sigh with relief. Maybe, we think, we're not as bad as we thought we were. We also feel a bond with that person because he or she is human, just like we are.

Perhaps this is why the Bible states that we are to confess our faults one to another that we may be healed.

This statement may shock you; We shouldn't try to be like Christ. What's that you say? Not try to be like Christ? That's almost blasphemous. The reasoning behind this statement is this: We cannot be like Christ through our own human efforts. It's impossible.

Most preachers urge us to be like Christ, but they don't tell us how. We're not told that it is the Spirit's responsibility to birth Christ in us. When Jesus left this earth, he told his disciples that He would send another helper. Someone just like Him. He would be the one who changes us from the inside out. When we try to do it on our own, it leaves us unfulfilled and frustrated,or worse yet, puffed up with pride.

The Bible states that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness , meekness and self-control. Whose fruit is it? That's right. The Spirit's fruit, not ours. None of us can possibly create that kind of fruit on our own. We can try. We can force ourselves to obey, to grit our teeth and do the right thing. But where is the joy or growth in that? Only pride in our own efforts.

God knows we cannot be like Christ by our own efforts. He set the standard high for that purpose. To prove to us how much we needed His help. Would God be God if we could change on our own? Who would we boast in? Ourselves, naturally.

By releasing ourselves, the good, bad and ugly ,into God's hands, it's then He can mold us into a "little Christ." When we confess to Him, "I can't do this on my own, I need help," it's at that point real answers and growth comes. We see Him working in our lives, doing what was impossible in our own efforts.

This way, God receives the praise and we learn to trust Him for more answers.

Does all this mean we are to just sit by and twiddle our thumbs while God makes all the changes in us? Absolutely not. We still must do the footwork. Seek Him in prayer, be familiar with His word and continue to be faithful, regardless of how our circumstances may look. God is a faithful God. He will test you and see what you're made of. He's waiting for you to run out of your own strength in order for Him to become your source.

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