ARE YOU CHRIST- OR ANTICHRIST-LIKE?

Thought Adjuster: “You were just reading about Jesus’ first parable—the Parable of the Sower. Previously, He had taught in a more direct way. Yet, because so many among those in attendance entertained the ulterior motive of finding fault in His demeanor or His teachings, Jesus resourcefully altered His methodology and started using thought-provoking parables as very effective teaching aids.

“Jesus had become a target for ill-intended individuals. In Nazareth, He “found himself surrounded by a great throng of his enemies… asking him ‘rude questions’ and treating him with ‘sinister bantering’… ‘They jostled him pointing accusatory fingers at him…”

“Do such behaviors sound familiar? Aren’t they exhibited in some of your press-conferences or the ranting of some of your so-called ‘comedians’ whose weapons of choice are mud-slinging, character defamation, hurtful sarcasm, and more? How could Jesus fulfill his God-given assignment when surrounded by ill-wishers whose main agenda was to stand in His way—to obstruct and impeach?

“How do you treat those who don’t embrace your views? Are you making fun of them, belittling them, humiliating them, dedicating your time and energies to make their life miserable? If so, you are no better than those who treated the Son of God in a similar loveless and disrespectful fashion.

“Jesus expects otherwise from His followers. “A soft answer turns away wrath.” He constantly admonishes them to break a spiritual trail of new behavioral patterns. ‘Turn the other cheek’, do not respond in kind to violence, love thy enemy, and much more.

“Dear ones, in order to change your world, it is essential to within and honestly examine your own behavior. What would Jesus do? Is your behavior Christlike or anti-Christlike? If you call yourself a follower of Christ, act as such! This is the ONLY WAY to bring about the long-awaited Kingdom of Heaven on Earth—the Family of God. It boils down to treating one another with brotherly affection and respect. Aren’t you all part of the human race, having so much more in common than you chose to admit? The road to God-likeness cannot bypass Christ-likeness.”