I wanna be like Christ (or do I?)

My wife, Sharon, and I just finished reading John Piper's book, God is the Gospel. (I was glad that we read it together and aloud, it helped me better understand what he was saying.) Toward the end of the book, Piper suggests that when we say we want to be like Christ, we should check our motivation for this pursuit.

"Do I want to be strong like Christ, so I will be admired as strong, or so that I can defeat every adversary that would entice me to settle for any pleasure less than admiring the strongest person in the universe, Christ?

Do I want to be wise like Christ, so I will be admired as wise and intelligent, or so that I can discern and admire the One who is most truly wise?

Do I want to be holy like Christ, so that I can be admired as holy, or so that I can be free from all unholy inhibitions that keep me from seeing and savoring the holiness of Christ?

Do I want to be a loving like Christ, so that I will be admired as a loving person, or so that I will enjoy extending to others, even in suffering, the all-satisfying love of Christ?"

A few sentences later, Piper concludes, "All of God's work...is designed by God not ultimately to make much of us, but to free us and fit us to enjoy seeing and savoring much of Christ forever."

I'm having to chew on this concept. So ingrained in me as a 21st century, North American Christian is the concept that God's ultimate purpose is to make much of me. Subtly (and not so subtly) I believe that somehow, inherent in me, is a loveable character with whom God is lucky to be in relationship.

Which brings me back to Piper's questions. Even my desire to be like Christ is tainted by a self-promoting attitude that wants God and those around me to be impressed with how good I am rather than how good God is. May God continue to work in me so that my deepest longing and more frequent choices reflect a God-changed desire to see and savor God as only One who is entirely worthy of honor and obedience.