Recently when talking to some co-workers we were discussing the environment you have at work, and the manner in which you interact with your co-workers.  Sometimes we seem to be extremely eager to cut others down or poke fun at them while around different sets of people. I was describing the desire to treat everyone respectfully in an uplifting manner and was told that was just to idealistic. That it was unrealistic and that no one lives that way. I wonder if they are right, I hope not, I think we just choose not to live that way.

In the past I have caught myself rationalizing why I shouldn’t have try so hard, or to make excuses why I have not lived up to the example Jesus has given us. In Colossians 3 Paul tells us we should have lofty goals in regard to our actions, that settling isn’t really proposed as an option. So I am trying to treat everyone as I think is befitting my understanding here in Colossians 3, failing frequently, but working at trying to improve on that performance.

Do you think we can ever over strive to be more like Jesus? I am convinced we can’t but that the devil has done a great job of making us think we are too hard on ourselves. Can’t we be aware of our failings without it being guilt laden? I think if anything this awareness of our imperfections and their implications should strengthen our resolve to lean on Jesus to make up that difference. But I think we just don’t bother reaching for it most of the time. I know I don’t. But I want to, and I want to get better at it. Maybe today I can be more like Jesus for only 5 seconds, but maybe tommorow I can do 6. I’m not implying you should keep track, that would kind of botch your ability to do it at all, but by focusing on being aware of your actions surely that brings us closer to making a difference in our actions.

Some may say, duh! and they should restart their timers, just kidding but I would say that thinking about how we treat each other can only be at the root of being more like Jesus. Every day he made a difference in the lives of sinners around himself, not becoming one of them to understand the sin. Just loving them enough to want to draw them away from their sins rather than ignoring them. I fear I ignore so many people because of their sins, but again doesn’t that come back to how we treat each other. No one is unimportant in God’s eyes, if we aren’t aware of our own shortcomings then we could tend to separate ourselves from others because of their sins. So by working on myself and caring about you, enough to actually try and help you, maybe we both can draw closer to God.

If I have a choice I think I want to live idealistically.