WE SHOULD IMITATE Jesus Christ in all we do, says Apostle Shauntelle Best.
Speaking during a recent church service at Voice of Israel Ministries International in Jackson, St Michael, Best said Christians should bear fruit such as patience, faith, honesty, love, kindness, zealousness and self-control. However, bad fruit such as pride, anger, selfishness, rebellion and jealousy should not be so named among believers.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. The Scripture says: ‘Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man’.
“Now even though He was God, He came to earth in a fleshly form so He could pay the price for our sins. And even though He had all power and authority, He didn’t act like He had it. He humbled Himself, and did nothing except by the direction of His Father. He didn’t consider Himself equal to God even though He is God.”
Best added that God did not want prideful, puffed-up, arrogant, boastful people who bragged about themselves. “Scripture says ‘those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted’ (Matthew 23:12).”
She added that Jesus touched people with leprosy, and He loved prostitutes, homosexuals, liars, stealers, cheaters, gamblers, and idolaters. “He does not approve of their behaviour, but He loves them all the same.”
She said no man was perfect and that God wanted people to treat others the way they would want to be treated.
The minister also told the congregation that “people often build thrones in their hearts”, but God was not the one sitting on them.
“We build thrones and then we sit on them, and we worship ourselves. God wants you to dethrone yourself, so that He can sit on the throne of your heart. So that what you say, you say through Him, and what you do, you do through Him. When you interact with people, they know that you are a child of God.”
Best stressed that believers should imitate God by reading His Word, following His commands and praying.
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