Christ-like

I was speaking with someone about expectations in the church....especially those that fellow believers and our elders put on us.  I responded to the person that they must be Christ-like in their response when dealing with a conflict with another believer.  From that statement, a discussion occurred that made me spend some time reviewing how I view being like Christ. 
Initially, my response was simple---like Jesus....Unlike the world.  That is true.  However, with additional thought, I realized that this is too simplistic.  In His days on Earth, Jesus was viewed as someone who was a rebellious sort.  He hung out with those that the religious of that day would never share any time with.  The Less-than....those who were "unGodly". Yet, in reality, Jesus was loving and full of grace and truth.  He was perfect, yes, but he came to Earth as Savior, not judge. Not when He walked on this Earth. 
I find that I get judgy....other Christians get judgy.  Not just of the world, but of each other....of ourselves. We tend to get all caught up in the "shoulds" that come with being a Christian.  Being more like Christ becomes a job to us-  not the supernatural miracle that it truly is.
We should strive to be more like Him, but we cannot.  When we strive, we then fail miserably.  The more I try to be like Christ, the more aware I am of my failings and how very un-Christlike I am. 
The very effort to be like Him makes me more aware of who I am and who He is.  He is Grace. He is Truth. He is God, so therefore He is Love.  I am none of those things without HIM. 
When I let Him take me over and quit trying to emulate Him (or my warped version of Him), I become more like Him.  I become Christ-like..... I do not look perfect, nor judgy, nor sanctimonious.  I appear approachable, peaceful, loving.  Someone that others want to be around. 
My prayer is that others will see Christ in me, because I lay my life down daily so that He will be in ME and will be leading my way. 

Seeing God in the smallest things is probably one of the great joys in my life.  I feel sad for folks who don't see that...don't get to experience the great burst of joy that comes with seeing Him unfold a detail that means so much to you.  This happens time and again in my life. I think He does this because He knows that I see this. I look for signs everywhere and God gives them. 
He loves me so much that He gives me those little "God winks" that mean so very much to me. 
I wish I could see those daily,but then I suppose that they won't be so special.  Those "God winks"  show me that He is unfolding things in a way that is intended for my Good...to give me a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)
My joy is renewed daily by this promise. I pray that you will see it too.