Reflections of Christ

Reflections can be interesting.  A reflection can give you an exact image of the original, or depending on what is doing the reflecting, the original can be somewhat distorted.  When you look into a clear pool you can see the exact image of yourself, or you may see the scenery that surrounds the pool.  If you take a small pebble and throw it into the water the image becomes very distorted as the ripples make their way across the pool of water.  Sometimes the reflections are not so much of what you can see in a mirror or clear pool, but can be what something or someones character reflects from its surroundings.  For example, a Chameleon can change colors that reflect the colors of its surroundings.  When a person moves from one surrounding into another they tend to take on the personality of those they become familiar with.  Reflection is a part of our lives, we can't avoid it.  We are going to reflect that which we become very familiar with and incorporate into our being.

You see this happening all the time.  Children who become friends with each other tend to develop the other's habits, their way of speaking and even some of their jester's.  They begin to reflect the image of their friends.  Adults do the same thing, they start a new job, become attached to or friends with their workmates.  Before long you can find yourself acting like them, you even pick up the work place language's, you find yourself fitting into that culture and reflecting the image of the personality of the work place.  Reflections can be very interesting and sometimes they can be quite disturbing, depending on what one begins to reflect.  When we reflect someone else's habits, way of speaking and even their actions, we are allowing our image to be altered by someone else, either for the good or for the worse.

I am sure you have heard many times from those who do not attend church that their reason for doing so is because their are to many hypocrites in the church.  Now this may be true in many cases, and what the people in the church are reflecting is not what Christ told us to do.  What these folks are doing is reflecting the world that they live in more so than in the Christ they believe in.  On the other hand those who do not attend church do not want to reflect the image of Christ because that would mean that they would have to alter their way of life to be in compliance with what the scriptures teach. Yes, reflection can tell a lot about a person, it can tell whether they are their own individual person, or they are just a mere reflection of the ones they associate with.  So what is so important about the subject of reflection then?  Does it really matter that much what we reflect as long as we as Christians hold our belief in Christ and look and act like the world around us?  

I believe it matters a great deal as to what our life reflects.  When we accept Christ into our lives we are accepting Him as Lord and Savior and when we do that we are agreeing to do things His way.  As we walk with Christ we should be taking on His image as we learn and grow in Him.  As we take on His image then we have to by the very nature of things, reflect His image through our lives.  So just what is that image then that we must reflect?  Look at the list below, read the scriptures that go along with the list and see where you stand compared to the image that Christ left us with.  Keep in mind that God is love and that is what will stand out in those who desire to fashion their lives after Him.  The only way we can reflect the image of God is to get to know Him and the only way we can know Him is to know Christ, because it is through Christ that the image of God is reflected.  Let's look into the God mirror for a few minutes and let's see what is reflected.  If you are like me, you may be a little surprised and maybe a little disappointed in yourself.

In the book "The Unshakable Truth" by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell they listed the following description of what Godlike love looks like.  First they described the setting for the instructions that Christ gave His disciples. 

His time on earth was coming to an end.  Jesus had spent the last few years pouring His life and teachings into His followers.  Just hours before His death He met with them to celebrate Passover, and Scripture says, "He now showed the disciples the full extent of His love" (John 13:1).  "He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and... began to wash the disciples' feet"  (John 13:4-5).  When He was finished He asked His disciples, "Do you understand what I was doing?  You call me "Teacher" and "Lord," and you are right, because it is true.  And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet.  I have given you an example to follow, Do as I have done to you... That is the path of blessing" (John 13:12-17).

Jesus had just taken on the role of a servant to wash the feet of His followers.  And within that context He issues a new commandment:  "A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

This was huge, Jesus was now adding an eleventh commandment, one that came straight from the mouth of God, a commandment that would be the mark of a true Christian.  Here would be a universal identifier according to the McDowell's.  This "Love one another as I have loved you" would be a distinguishing mark on the life of all the followers of Christ from that point on.  Jesus didn't just issue the command, He demonstrated it.  And He is saying that if you love me, then you do as I have done.  After His death and resurrection God inspired the disciples and apostles to write out specific instructions to show what Christlike love looks like in our lives.

These admonitions give us practical examples of how to love as Jesus loved.  We know, for example, the nature of Jesus' love was gentle, humble, and forgiving.  Scripture admonishes us to live out those characteristics of Christ by being gentle to one another (Ephesians 4:2), being humble toward one another (1 Peter 5:5), and forgiving one another (Colossians 3:13).  By identifying these "one another' passages, we get a much clearer picture of how Christ wants us to live out His divine nature of love in our lives.  (J. McDowell)

As promised here is the list of references as to how we can reflect the very nature of Christ to those around us and to those we serve.  While considering the following list do it in light of "Love is making the security, happiness, and welfare of another person as important as your own." 

The "One Anothers" of Scripture

1. Love one another (John 13:34).
2. Accept one another (Romans 15:7).
3. Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
4. Be gentle to one another (Ephesians 4:2).
5. Be clothed in humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5).
6. Weep with one another (Romans 12:15).
7. Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16).
8. Don't judge one another (Romans 14:13).
9. Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2).
10. Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).
11. Greet one another (Romans 16:16).
12. Wait for one another (1 Corinthians 11:33).
13. Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25).
14. Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
15. Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
16. Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10).
17. Be compassionate toward one another (Ephesians 4:32).
18. Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
19. Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21).
20. Make allowances for one another (Colossians 3:13).
21. Stimulate love in one another (Hebrews 10:24).
22. Offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:10).
23. Minister gifts to one another (1 Peter 4:10).
24. Rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26).
25. Don't slander one another (James 4:11).
26. Don't grumble against one another (James 5:9).
27. Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16).
28. Pray for one another (James 5:16).
29. Fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).
30. Don't be puffed up against one another (1 Corinthians 4:6).
31. Carry one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2).
32. Honor one another (Romans 12:10 amp).
33. Depend on one another (Romans 12:5).
34. Prefer one another (Romans 12:10).
35. Comfort one another (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Paul's admonition to us;

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love.  Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace.  And always be thankful (Colossians 3:12-15). 

What is that you are reflecting in your life?  Is it the image of Christ that He left us with, the "love one another" type scriptures?  Are you reflecting more of the world around you or are you reflecting to the world around you the loving image of Christ?  As follower's of Christ, our journey will require change and as we walk closer to Christ, the more we will reflect His holiness and His love.

There is one final thought that we must realize in this process of loving one another and that is what Josh McDowell stated about his life after learning to put into practice these "one another" scriptures, and that is this; When Josh McDowell realized that loving others as Christ loved didn't mean he was responsible for other people, he was set free to be responsible to others.  By living out these scriptures frees us up so we can be responsible to those who God has brought before us through what He has prepared in us.  We now can reach out to others as Christ reached out to the world He lived in.

May God bless you beyond measure as you learn to love "one another".


Please feel free to leave your comments, they help me in future messages.  Thank you.
In Christ,
Steve