Whose image do you bear?

Some of the members of one of the churches of which I am Minister attended the annual Christian event, ECG, in Scarborough earlier this year.  The morning Bible studies were led by Methodist Minister Rev Paul Smith.  Those from my church who were present as Paul Smith led the Bible studies were so inspired and challenged by his words that they bought a copy of the dvds of the Bible Study.  Over the past four Tuesday evenings we have met at church and watched the dvds, joined by friends from other local Methodist churches.

There is no doubt that Paul Smith is one of the most gifted of current Methodist preachers/teachers (I try hard not to be jealous!)  He has a wonderful way of presenting aspects of Christian faith, which can appear complex, in a way which is understandable to the ordinary person.  One of the ways in which he gets the message across is by his excellent use of illustrations (Jesus himself was always telling stories to help people understand the things of God).

A number of Paul Smith's illustrations in the dvd series spoke very powerfully and helpfully, and I want to try and relate one in particular.  It concerns a gentleman called Thomas Cook, who was a famous Methodist evangelist in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.  A certain church had, so the story goes, invited Thomas Cook to come and speak.  Those were the days when Wesleyan Methodist Ministers had large manses and employed a maid to help keep things in order!  The Minister had given instructions to his maid to make all the necessary preparations for the arrival of their famous visitor.  As the weekend approached, the poor maid was very tired.  The Minister, apparently, heard that Thomas Cook had a particular liking for sausages, so instructed the maid to visit the local butcher's shop to buy some sausages.

The maid, by this time almost worn out with the extra work, rather begrudgingly did as she had been instructed.  She fell into conversation with the butcher, pouring out her woes, exclaiming, "You would almost think that Jesus Christ himself was coming to stay!"

Some time later, the maid found herself once more at the butcher's shop.  The butcher jokingly asked her, "Well, did Jesus Christ come to stay, then?"  The maid paused thoughtfully for a moment and replied, "Actually, I think that perhaps he did."  During his visit, Thomas Cook had made such an impression on the young lady, by his character, words and actions, that she felt that it was almost as if Jesus himself had been present in the household.

The Apostle Paul, describing those who have been called by God into his family, writes that God 'chose them to bear the family likeness of his Son' (Romans 8.29), and John writes that, 'The life of a person who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ' (1 John 2.6).  What challenging words!  What God most longs to see as he looks at his children is that we are growing into the image and likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ.  That is our calling!  It is not something which we can ever hope to accomplish in our own strength; it is only as we allow God's Holy Spirit to work in us, moulding us and shaping us, that the transformation will take place.

So, whose image do you bear?