Dopelgängers
Who's your celebrity doppelgänger?
Before I had a beard, the two look-alike comments I heard most frequently were "You look a bit like Bruce Willis," and "You look a lot like Jim Carrey." Since I've grown my beard, the Jim Carrey comparison continues.
Yesterday I got a rare one (only happened once before): "You look like Michael Card." For those who don't know of him, Michael Card is a Christian musician and author. He is also 16 years older than me, but what can you do? Bruce Willis is even older.
As fun as it is to (kind of) look like someone famous, followers of Jesus are actually supposed to "look like" someone famous - Jesus himself. Not in physical appearance (an olive-skinned Middle Eastern man with a beard), but in character appearance. Like Jesus, we are to be good, kind, compassionate, and loving.
"For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps."
~ 1 Peter 2:21"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had."
~ Philippians 2:5"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."
~ 1 John 2:6
Yikes. To live with the character of Jesus is a tall order. Very tall. I mean, sure, I want to have the kindness and compassion of Jesus every day, but it is hard to emulate under certain conditions, like today when a semi trailer ran a red light and almost hit me on my motorbike. I did not have kind and loving thoughts toward the driver.
So maybe a better question for us is, "Who's your character doppelgänger?" Today on my motorbike, my character doppelgänger was definitely more Bruce Willis in Die Hard than Jesus in the Gospels. Other days, though, I feel the compassion of the Spirit in me, or his kindness, or his strength, or his patience.
And I keep trying to live like him, because I truly believe that living with the character of Jesus will not only promote my own flourishing, but also the flourishing of others around me. Some days I succeed, other days I don't.
Thankfully, however, developing the character of Jesus doesn't depend solely on me.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
~ Philippians 2:13
PAUSE and REFLECT:
Who's your character doppelgänger?
Before we answer that question, let's start with this assurance: God loves you, and is working in you.
When it comes to our character development, we may think to ourselves, "I try. I fail. I try. I fail." But that's not what God says. He says: "WE try." And when the inevitable stumble comes, he says, "It's OK. We'll keep trying."
When we think of growing in the character of Christ as we are called to do, there's no need to put extreme pressure on ourselves. Yes, it will take effort. Yes, we must do our best to have the same attitude as Christ. But God is on the job, and he's pretty good at what he does.
So back to the question: who's your character doppelgänger? I don't know what your answer is now, but I do know this: one day, Jesus will be your doppelgänger.
"May [the God of peace] equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen."~ Hebrews 13:21