Reflecting upon Paul’s wisdom, knowledge, power and dedication causes one to a desire to emulate his walk.  Seeing how John and James spent days upon end sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening, praying and working makes me wonder how I could be after such time with Christ.  Elijah’s fealty, Isaiah’s truth, Moses’s strength all give me pause seeing how inconsistent my walk, frail my breath and short my arm.  And I weep to be faced with the opportunity to express courage as Joshua or faith like Stephen.  Oh and father Abraham to believe so deeply in the Lord’s promise that he would offer up his precious son.

These thoughts make me shiver and drive me to my knees but what quickens me and takes the breath from my pride is the thought that nothing else matters but Jesus.  I am to imitate Him and learn from the mistakes, victories and trials of His disciples but I am not to try and be like them, but like the Lord.  All these men, and women had one thing in common they tried to be like Him.  They trusted Him, loved Him, worshiped Him and followed Him to that one death which faces each of us on our path to the everlasting.  They had the unique understanding that there was nothing else as important, no other challenge as grand no other pursuit worth every ounce of spirit.  They wanted to be like Him and some made a pretty strong stand wouldn’t you say?

It does not matter what others believe, what others fear, say or accomplish.  It matters only that I do what the Maker of every universe programmed into my spirit.  That I fulfill my quest, not that it measures up against someone else or that there are two brothers that are better than I at being compassionate, patient and gentle.  I just want to be like Him.  To know that what I have done needs no explanation.  I want to be true, right, honest and pure because that is what He is like.  I want to defend the weak, pick up the discarded and pray for the misunderstood.  Though I love you my Lord’s Saints that love began when He first loved me and I understood how to love Him.  I wish for you all the success that the Lord may bestow upon you in this life and the next, but I could give a hoot if I am doing a better job than any of you.  I just want to be like Him.  For me that is Holy Grail, my quest, my wish.  Praise the Almighty God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob in the Glorious name of Jesus Christ the Lion of Judah, my King.  Amen.