Live Like Christ

This is Day 19 of my 40 day Lenten Blog.

I am sure everyone has seen the story of the brothers who went around Tennessee and Kentucky buying up all of the sanitizer and wipes they could find. Their plan was to sell the products at increased prices online. By increased prices I mean these brothers were selling bottles of hand sanitizer for 70 times what they paid for it. They created the artificial shortage by buying up all sanitizer and then gouged others. When Amazon shut them down they went and whined to the media hoping for a sympathetic ear. Instead they are being investigated by the AG's office for price gouging and have decided to donate all of their remaining product.

This is an extreme example of NOT living like Christ during this crisis. Anyone can see that this is not a Christian thing to do. But sometimes, especially when I am scared or anxious, I need to remind myself about how to live like Christ. I know not to be like the brothers from Tennessee, but even in smaller ways I need to be more like Christ.

Christ is generous and shares with others in need.

Christ sacrifices His own needs for the needs of others.

Christ suffers for others.

Christ always does the right thing, even when it was unpopular and costs Him personally.

Christ tells the truth, even when it costs Him friends.

Christ is humble, and though better than all of us, lowers Himself to the position of servant.

Christ obeys God's will even when He really, really, really doesn't want to do what God tells Him to do.

Christ seeks not His own glory, but the glory of the Father who sent him.

These are the things I must do to be like Christ. It won't be easy for me, just like it wasn't easy for Him. But I can succeed with His help and the Help of His Holy Spirit.

Today's prayer:

Lord, help me to be more like You. Give me a servants heart--a heart of charity, poverty and humility. Help me to do Your will and to sacrifice my needs for the needs of others.

R.C. VanLandingham is the author of the Christian fantasy novel Peter Puckett & The Amulet of Eternity. He lives in Florida with his beautiful wife and three wonderful boys.