Are you a "Christian?

Seems like a simple question. But the origin of the words put greater demands on our answer.

The early followers of Christ were given the them "Christian" by outsiders. It was meant as a slight. Literally it meant "little Christs". In essence they were saying, 'so you want to be a little Jesus, a goody two-shoes, a holy roller." As Paul preached to Agrippia, he parroted these sentiments in Acts 26:28, "In a short time would you convince me to be a Christian?" Agrippa was almost mocking Paul. "You? Preach to me? And to lower myself to be part of your club of Christians?"

But the early church adopted this term. Did they want to be little Christs? Did they want to imitate Christ (1 Corintihans 11:1, Ephesians 5:1, 1 Thes 1:6)? Absolutely! With all their heart, soul and strength.

Lord, deliver me from the weight that drags me down and the sin that ensnares and help me to imitate you in your humility, mercy, obedience, gentleness and grace.

Our True Size

Each time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, “I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.” Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size.

John Stott, As Each Day Begins