A couple of weeks ago Brother Ramirez gave a talk about becoming more like Christ. As I sat there the words echoed through me. It didn't take long for me to realize what I needed to do and my goal for the New Year. I asked Brother Ramirez for a copy because its something I wanted to reread and keep close always.
"........We have all been commanded to strive to be like Jesus. We are reminded of this goal as we sing the childrens hymn which reads I'm trying to be like Jesus I'm following in his ways I am trying to love as he did in all that I do and say. But that takes more than playing pretend. I would like to become more like Jesus. But for me to take that step, to start that journey, I have to stop making pretend. Becoming like Jesus I have realized takes more than going through the motions and playing the part.
In preparing this talk I have learned that Becoming like Jesus is a process that takes more. How much more? It takes more than saying prayers that haven't changed in length or in content in years, it takes more than reading the scriptures on occasion, it takes more than looking at the clock during Sacrament meeting waiting for the High Councilor to be done, it takes more than being nice only to those you want to be nice to, it takes more than avoiding those who have offended you versus actually forgiving them, it takes more than just wearing the CTR ring, it takes more than just saying you love your kids and wife but actually turning off the TV and leading a family home evening, it takes more than smiling at your Bishop on Sunday but criticizing his decisions on Monday, it takes more than just fast forwarding the bad parts of the rated R movie, it takes more than avoiding the worst of sins while indulging in the little ones, it takes more than just having a temple recommend that never gets used, it takes more than taking up space in Seminary half asleep so your parents won't take away your driving privileges, it takes more than hanging out instead of planning an actual date night for your sweetheart, it takes more than just tolerating someone's voice in the choir, it takes more than wandering the halls during relief society, elders quorum and Sunday school class, it takes more than memorizing the phone number of your elders quorum president so that you can screen your calls and not have to help people move, it takes more than meticulously calculating how much top ramen and water costs to decide how much you will give for your fast offerings, it takes more than showing up to sacrament just in the nick of time to hear the amen of the sacrament prayers, it takes more than just biting your tongue, it takes more than wearing modest clothing most of the time, it takes more than just not playing that one song at a church dance, you know the one, the one on your ipod with those lyrics that you are not so sure about that you listen to at home, it takes more than being embarrassed for getting caught but actually feeling sorrow for sin, it takes more than saying Bishop I need help but also saying how can I help, it takes more than saying hi to a member of the ward at Fred Meyer and calling it home teaching, it takes more than coming home with a paycheck but actually helping with the dishes too. Yes brothers and sisters, it takes more to become like Christ, more effort, more forgiveness, more humility, more prayer, more sincerity......."
