I am an extremely poor example of Jesus.
I think a good portion of us believers would admit to that. The world sees a hypocrite -- and some are right -- but there's a good portion of us that are just struggling works in progress.
I freely admit my faults and take no pride in any of them. I say and laugh at inappropriate things, I don't go to church (the spirit is willing, but the body and mind aren't always on board), I have ungracious assumptions about people, my temper and emotions get the best of me, I can be cold and unloving, I have very weak faith at times. Many would probably call me a hypocrite. But what they don't see, when you strip everything away, is my deep, deep love and gratitude for my Savior and my desperate need for Him. You don't hear my imperfect, tear-filled prayers from my place on the floor. You don't know how excited I get to learn more and more about His word and His ways. You don't witness the struggle to trust Him, knowing very well I have no reason to believe I shouldn't. You don't feel the deep sorrow of having to turn to Him in repentance once more, knowing I should know better. Only He gets to experience all that. Anything good you see me is because of Him and I owe everything to Him. I think that's the case for many of us -- we just stink at showing it.
So, don't look to us believers if you're looking for Jesus -- you'll most likely be disappointed every time. Look for Him for yourself, in His word and in His works. Because we believers, though we mean well, are just cheap knockoffs compared to Him, and helpless sinners just like you.
