Look up, not to the side

One thing rings true throughout time when it comes to following Jesus. Greed, lust for power and prominence make it darn near impossible to find clues in our Christian sub-culture (I just threw up a little bit in my mouth) for what it means to sacrificially die for the sake of others. This is why it's of the utmost importance to look up to Jesus for our cues, and not to the side at our neighbors.

We will forever be hard pressed to find living Christians, but we can always look up to find the living Christ. Paul exhortation, to imitate him as he imitates the Messiah should forever haunt the sober-minded pastor. Throughout time the masses have been blinded to the sacrificial call of Jesus. Unfortunately the few have also drunk deeply of carnal cultural influences. The few take spiritual cat naps, and lounge around in a lazy stupor neglecting the persistent call to bear the burden of the sacrificial love cross.

This is why we cannot look to others. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. The constant ongoing inner battle within every Christian makes looking to others difficult, because there are many defeats, even in the most love hungry obedient children. Therefore, look up to Jesus to see the one worth mimicking, and not to the side. IF the Lord should see it fit to bless us to put a human representative worth imitating (as Paul calls all Christians to be) then stick close, learn, and be tutored up close and personal in the ways of holiness.