and may by our love we be known as Christians

it has been put on my heart today that hopefully one day soon i will be able to be called a 'Christian' as the 'disciples' in Antioch were.

i think the title 'Christian' is used far too loosely and it has become so easy to be called a Christian by others who call themselves this, that people who don't even really believe in Jesus teaching call themselves this.

i just finished reading the first chapter of a book that jumped out at me, if you like, off the book shelf, one of Tab's books i am baby sitting. it's Charles M. Sheldon's book "In His Steps". and it occurred to me that part of being a disciple of Jesus is imitating him. as like this definition of a disciple from Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary -
A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his
sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example

i am not saying i have left my faith in Jesus behind, or that i don't have assurance that i am saved from my sins by his more than sufficient grace, and am only by his grace given a place in heaven, because i do have these things.

but i believe that my imitating of his example is lacking and that is apart of being a disciple of Jesus, and therefore a Christian.

i really want this to change, i really want to change.

and may by our love we be known as Christians