Jesus wants us to be like Him

You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ESV)

 I once heard a person say that we should be “thermostat Christians,” not “thermometer Christians.” I was puzzled, so they explained.
 A thermometer Christian is one whose temperature is constantly adjusting to whatever circumstances he finds himself in. This person is able to assess the surrounding environment and then adjust his approach to better reach people. On the other hand, a thermostat Christian is one who influences his or her surroundings, making a difference for the better.
 We’re clearly meant to have an effect on our surroundings—sharing God’s light and love with the world—yet, it’s so important that we do it with the motivation of glorifying Jesus and lifting Him up, not trying to show that our faith or religion makes us better than other people. Don’t forget either that all good thermostats include a thermometer as well.
 We do need to be able to rightly assess situations to see how we can best reach people with the good news and glorify God. As Christians, I believe Jesus wants us to be like Him, humble and extending His love.
 I think you could say that Jesus radically adapted to His human surroundings to be relatable to those He was with, but also projected a huge force for good in creating change in each circumstance He came into. —Simon Bishop [1]

 It’s amazing what God can do with what seems so small; like you and I! —John M. Sheehan

[1] Activated Thermostat or Thermometer