A Christian has been described as “a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps.” In other words, a Christian must become an extension of Christ to the world.

As a mind through which Christ thinks, the apostle Paul encouraged Christians at Philippi to possess the mind of Christ (Ph. 2:5). The selfish attitude of Jesus should describe every child of God. The mind is the battlefield for the soul. We must “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4). A Christian’s mind must be trained by the gospel so as to think as Christ thinks.

The Christian is also described as a heart through which Christ loves. Christ’s love is best known to the world through those who have experienced it themselves. Paul writes: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:1-2). Christ is the measure of our love. The world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another (Jn. 13:35). This love is not just something we talk about–it is something we do. John wrote: “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn. 3:16).

In addition to being a mind through which Christ thinks and a heart through which He loves, a Christian is also characterized as a voice through which Christ speaks. God has chosen the instrumentality of human speech to convey His message to a lost world. More than a voice for Christ, ours must be a voice speaking Christ’s message. For Peter wrote: “Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God…” (1 Pet. 4:11). We are responsible to use our gift of speech in a way that brings glory to God.

Finally, a Christian is a hand through which Christ helps. Our hands are the practical tools through which help is given to those in need. Jesus said that a cup of cold water given in His name would not lose its reward. To shine as lights in this world, people must see Jesus living in us. When He is living in us, the world will see our good works and glorify the Father (Mt. 5:16). May God bless each of us in our desire to be Christ-like in every respect!