It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how God transforms us into the iconic pattern displayed in his Son. Though the full glory of God is too much for us to see directly, God veiled it in his Son and still veils it in the gospel. Because it is veiled, we can stare at it. As we do, it transforms us more and more into the image of Jesus.

It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how Jesus’ life is iconic for how we are to be a blessing to those who curse us. Absent the gospel that Jesus proclaimed and embodied, we would only know one way to react to those who do evil against us: repay them with evil in return. Just as Jesus loved those who hated him, however, he calls his followers to instead repay evil with good.

It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how Jesus’ life is iconic for how we can expect God to bless us. Just as Jesus’ suffering and death won forgiveness and life for the world, so also God uses what we might consider cursed in our lives—pain, frustration, affliction—to bless us. By blessing us in this surprising way, he teaches us to be totally dependent on him.

It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how, just as Jesus was sent by his Father to proclaim the good news, so he sends his followers to do the same. For that to happen, he must first draw those followers close to himself to receive forgiveness for their sins. By purifying their unclean lips with his perfect sacrifice, they are made eager to share what they have received.

It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how Jesus did not view his time on earth as his own to do what he wanted with. Rather, he understood his mission and dutifully carried it out. In the same way, those who speak on God’s behalf do not create their own job description. Rather, they are given a message to proclaim regardless of how it is received. Their faithful discharge of this duty will be a blessing both to them and the people they serve.

It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how Jesus’ preaching and teaching are iconic gospel witness we carry out. The message he proclaimed is the same he sends us to proclaim. The outrage he faced is the same he tells us to expect. And finally, the way God used that outrage as a catalyst for the further spread of the gospel is what we can trust God will do for us as well.

It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how Jesus’ miracles are iconic for what we can expect from God in answer to our prayers. Just as Jesus provided more than enough with his first miracle, so God teaches us that his answers to our prayers are often more than we ask or can even imagine. His power at work in our world and in our lives is abundant and generous.

It’s natural for us to want to become the “best version of ourselves.” It’s easy to think we are also responsible for defining what that “best version” is. But Jesus has already done that for us. There is nothing better we could pursue than for our lives to be a mirror image of the one who is the image of God. This week we see how Jesus’ is iconic for how we understand who we are. Just as Jesus’ identity was confirmed and revealed at his baptism, so also God uses baptism in our lives to reveal and confirm our identity as his children. This anointing of the Holy Spirit through water and the Word gives us a certain source for a stable identity.

It’s natural to think that the way to prevent disappointment is to set lower expectations. The opposite is true with Christmas. If “the most wonderful time of the year” hasn’t always been so wonderful, the solution is not to expect less. Instead, this is the time of year when God teaches us to look for more. Today we see how God teaches us to look for a bigger audience for our Savior’s work in the world. Whether it was before, at, or after his arrival, God works constant surprises in the people he brings to see and worship the Savior. Whether it be distance, culture, or sin that seems to separate people from Jesus, no distance is too great for God to overcome. By his grace God has worked that surprise in our lives. By his grace he will use us to work that same surprise in the lives of others.

It’s natural to think that the way to prevent disappointment is to set lower expectations. The opposite is true with Christmas. If “the most wonderful time of the year” hasn’t always been so wonderful, the solution is not to expect less. Instead, this is the time of year when God teaches us to look for more. Today we see how God teaches us to look for a bigger aftermath to the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It’s easy for us to quickly move on from one big event the second it’s over and quickly move on to the next. But rather than immediately moving on from Jesus’ birth or just as quickly looking ahead to the ultimate fulfillment of his mission on the cross, today we get to pause on the everyday, ordinary obedience Jesus offered in our place. He became like us in every way and his entire life is the perfect substitute for ours.