Why Can’t You Be Like Your Brother?

Acts 3:4-6
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

I have to start out this morning by saying that my parents never said that to me. I have an older brother that I was always trying to imitate while growing up, but my parents never told me to do that it just came naturally. Me being the younger sibling, I wanted to do what my brother did. I wanted to go where my brother went. I tried my best to be cool like my brother.

I remember that he started playing around with a bass guitar once. It wasn't long until I had that thing in my hand. I put some sunglasses on and an Elvis song. I came sliding into the living room in my socks and sang some "Hound dog". I thought I was cool (and still do). But I did this because of my brother and his messing around with the bass. Growing up I tried to do a lot of things that my brother did. I played football because he did. I wore Guess jeans because he did (well they were his). I rolled up my pants on the ends because he did. It was just in me as a younger brother to look at him and be like him.

Peter one time told a man to "Look on us." After this man looked upon Peter and John he hopefully could see the big brother Jesus. You see Peter didn't want that man to see Peter. He wanted him to see Jesus. Peter fashioned the rest of his life to look and do things that his brother Jesus would do. He went to the places Jesus went. He shared the same words Jesus spoke. He lived his life trying to be like his brother Jesus.

Would you rather spend your life with everyone looking at you and trying to be you? I spent much of my earlier years wanting people to look at me and be like me but I have finally figured out that I want people to look like my big brother Jesus. How do I get them to be like Jesus? Be like my brother, Jesus.