When I was a young boy, I wanted to be like Gene Autry. I had two of his 45 rpm records I played almost every day. When I went outside, I would ride my stick horse “Champion” everywhere, singing, “Back in the saddle again.” A cowboy with a great smile that took care of the bad guys. When I left my ”boy stage,” I began to imitate a mixture of good & bad characters. This led to a yoyo lifestyle of good & bad, up & down emotions, and victory & failure/regret.

There are many good people, but all people will fail. There is only One worthy to imitate…only One who will not fail…Only One who will keep every promise, Jesus. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5 of how it will affect us and everyone we encounter, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” I find no record of Jesus getting into political arguments, complaining about work, school, the food, poor service, or____ and He did not gossip. No, Jesus showed up in people’s lives because He loved them. He loved them in such a way that they recognized He saw value in them.

We live in a time of great contrast, of good & evil (Please note, Good is only what God considers good). It is a time of wonderful opportunity, to be effective for the Kingdom right where you live. Paul later tells us in Phil 2:14-16, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of Life.” BAM! There is the key to it all, “hold firmly to the Word of Life”! To imitate His “mindset” we must study Him, know Him personally and desire to be with Him, No-Matter-What. Jesus desires for us to have a full life here and hereafter. Listen to His heart’s desire from John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” As the song goes, “I’ve got Joy because I’ve got Jesus.”

Isn’t it time you lived life to the full? Be contagious for the Kingdom, live like Jesus.