Most preachers have heard and even talked about the importance of Christians being the hands, feet, arms, eyes, and heart of Jesus. Why do you think this is so important, and why do we try to do this? It is, at least in part, because we believe intellectually that we are an extension of Christ.
Just think briefly about everything we’ve learned from reading about our Lord’s life. He teaches us how we are to feel about others. “Love one another, even as I have loved you.” “Love your enemies.” “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” “While being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
He gives us our mission. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”
He teaches us to forgive. “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” He commands us to forgive others. It is not for us to decide if we should forgive someone.
He teaches us to persevere, even during the most challenging days of our lives. “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
If we want to make a difference in the world through our preaching and our lives, we must follow in the steps of our Leader.
