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The characteristics of Jesus . . . What more could any of us want for our lives? What example do we show to the world, especially the lost world? Do we stand apart? Is there anything about us, that makes us different? Does the world see something other than ourselves, or do we blend in with the crowd?

When I was a child, I remember seeing a group of older kinds in my home town, that were always together. I wasn't familiar with the word "clone" back then, but now it seems appropriate. Everthing about them was the same, from their clothing to the way they styled their hair, the way they talked, they even drove the same kind of cars.

Spending time with others, we see that their thoughts and ideas can become our own.We know that when we are around negative people, we feel that negativity. If we are around upbeat, positive people, they make us feel better about ourselves. The more time we spend in prayer and reading the Bible, the more like Jesus we become.

Loving others is sometimes a difficult task. Face it, many times some of the people we know aren't very lovable. But through reading Jesus' words, we learn that it doesn't matter if they are lovable or not, we are to love them anyway. What words did Jesus give us about love? He spoke of it often and His message was always the same. In John 13:34&35, Jesus says, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one  another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men  know that ye are my disciples, that ye have love one to another." When the world sees a kind and loving spirit in us, they see Jesus. This love, sets us apart from the rest of the world.

There is an old saying, "actions speak louder than words." At the end of each day, I take a long, hard look in the mirror and really think about my day. How did I act toward my family, or co-workers, or a stranger I met on the street? Did I give them a smile? Did someone see Jesus in me? Sometimes a smile and a kind hello can change the course of someone's day. When we stay close to God and walk with Jesus, our lives will reflect Their love and kindness. The traits of Jesus, will become our traits. Kindness takes a little effort, but the results are quite remarkable. Having a kind and gracious spirit, is truly a gift from God.