If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:31
Jesus of Nazareth, God’s only Son, was born to save our lives and to teach us how to live. In the Christian community we often refer to Jesus as Lord. By this we mean that Jesus was a master of living in the same way that a master violinist can bring out the fullness of an instrument or a master carpenter can make a beautiful piece of furniture. As disciples (or students) of Jesus, we look forward to learning how to live well and then going out to share what we have learned. We have the hope that in time, and under the guidance of Jesus’ master hand, we will grow to be the people God created us to be. Our life will start to look like the life of Jesus—joy, self-sacrifice, resurrection.
Though we cannot make ourselves to be more like Christ, we can take up certain habits or practices that create more opportunities for the Spirit to be at work to make us like him. We can think of it like a sailboat. Just as no sailor can make the wind blow a particular way or at a certain time, we cannot cause the Holy Spirit to move in a particular way in our life. Just as a sailor can put up sails in a certain way for when the wind does blow, we can put up certain practices in our lives for when the Holy Spirit blows in our lives. Some of the practices we can set up in our life include prayer, hospitality, study and fasting. We trust that above all things, God wants to move in our lives and the world around us. The abundant and eternal life that Jesus Christ gives begins now.
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10
