Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 

Character has two meanings, one being the characteristics of one’s true identity expressed here as the exact imprint of his nature. I often wonder what it must have been to walk with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Being with the living Word and seeing it with natural eyes is not the same as seeing today with our spiritual eyes.

We have each other but our flesh interferes with the brilliance of that radiant glory. No matter how hard we try to be Christlike, our flesh gets in the way.

John 13:12-15 English Standard Version

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Jesus set the example for what we should do for one another. Do we understand what that ceremonial exercise represents?

Tradition was that servants would greet visitors to the home by washing their feet and washing off the dust of the earth that should not be allowed to dirty the home, where we live. To the life within us, it represents forgiveness of sin.

What if those that would care to enter refused to remove their sandals and allow their feet to be washed?

They would not be allowed to enter.

• Joel 2:9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
• Zechariah 5:4 I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
• John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Exodus 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

How long will you go limping between two different opinions?

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

The word opinion is not used very often in the bible. I have dismissed the 3 uses offered in Job. It is my opinion that they should be left out of this conversation.

In this age of social media there is nothing but opinions covering a wide range of subject matter. It has gone so far as to create a new title in the market place,The Influencer.

Opinions seem to be the way of the world. It is almost as if the world would have no influence without strong opinions. We who are in Christ know better.

I was first struck by Elijah’s description of limping, which is an obvious outward sign. It reminded me of Jacob’s wrestling match and that after his wound in the thigh he might have limped.

The proverb fits social media’s opinions beautifully, they take great pleasure in their folly.

Third is the expression of how our Lord is not swayed by opinions or appearances.

Then comes the instructions from Paul in how to treat opinions.

Even in this short article I gave my own opinion because in my judgment those examples did not bring us any closer to the mystery that is Christ in us.

The bible is full of light and darkness and there should be no opinion that wavers as to which is the way to life. Light leads us to Christ and darkness is a bottomless pit.

Colossians 2:9-10 (English Standard Version)

 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him whiteout limping.