What connects our lives to the life of Jesus? The practices of Jesus. Solitude. Silence. Simplicity. Sabbath. Service. Each of these is a point of contact between our lives and his life. This is much more than merely imitating Jesus. It is impossible to be Jesus on our own! It is impossible to follow his practices based on our own determination. Even if we are dedicated and motivated! If we try the practices merely through our own strength, we will fail miserably. If we just try harder, the practices will be burdens, not an easy yoke. But these practices are not about trying, but trusting. We do not try to do what Jesus would do. We will fail. But the great good news is that Jesus lives in us. His powerful presence through the Holy Spirit empowers us in the practices of Jesus. We imitate Christ because he lives in us. Gary Holloway, You Might Be Too Busy If …: Spiritual Practices for People in a Hurry (Abilene, TX: Leafwood Publishers, 2011).
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