MAP.,

             I agree with you.

We are to be like Jesus.

However, when we “try” to, is when “we” are doing, and therefore cannot be like Jesus.

Sounds like an impossible catch 22, and in the natural, it is.

If it is our will to be like Jesus, then it is still our will, not his will, but Jesus surrendered his will to the Father.

So, unless we surrender to, and are led by, the Holy Ghost, then we are still in our flesh, “trying” to be like Jesus, which is completely a spiritual thing.

When I’m “trying”, I’m actually operating in the flesh, yet I acknowledge the LORD & claim a few scriptures, to deceive myself, that it is successful.

Down deep in my heart, where I greatly deceive myself, is my pride, that loves religious improvement & accomplishments.

Religious is all the works that I do, which is different from the Holy Ghost doing them in me.

My secret, lying pride, doesn’t want the Holy Ghost doing everything.

That way, my pride doesn’t get fed. My pride loves looking at all the sins I no longer commit.

To my secret self, my pride believes that I had a part in me no longer doing those sins, and I secretly boast in myself, but outwardly praise & thank the LORD.

My secret self loves to consider my growth, again because my pride believes that I had a part in in it.

My secret-self despises the back side of the desert, as well as thorns in the flesh, unless they are only physical, that my secret-self can tolerate.

My secret-self does not want the Holy Ghost living through me, yet that is the only way to be like Jesus.

“I” can never be like Jesus, because “I” still has an old nature, but if it is the Holy Ghost living through me, he only can be perfect.

So, unless “I’m” dead, and he living through me, I’ll never be like Jesus, no matter how much I try, or how hard I will it, it is impossible.

However, the Holy Ghost is always perfect, always holy, always good, always righteous, and always like Jesus, because the Holy Ghost is the LORD.

                          Thank you,

                                       Gino