Don Vitalle's "Living Christly" explores how to embody Jesus' qualities daily. He acknowledges the challenge, referencing a joke about Jesus' brother James, but emphasizes progress over perfection, positioning the Bible as the essential guide.
Vitalle outlines five key Christ-like attributes: Love, highlighting its supreme importance and suggesting self-awareness of our own flaws fosters love for others. Compassion is likened to a shepherd's care, urging empathy for the vulnerable. Humility involves valuing others, fostering community and respect. Forgiveness is rooted in the complete pardon offered through Jesus, encouraging us to forgive others. Finally, Obedience to God's will, exemplified by Jesus' sacrifice, is paramount.
For each quality, Vitalle provides relevant scripture and offers practical insights. He uses analogies, like sheep needing a shepherd for compassion and the difficulty of staying humble, to make these concepts relatable.
The article concludes by stating that while we can't be Jesus, practicing these five qualities honors Him and welcomes us into His family through obedience to God's will. The tone is encouraging and aims to make living a Christ-like life feel attainable through consistent effort and reliance on biblical principles.