Becoming Like Christ
Many want to be somebody. Only a few desire to be like Jesus. Who do you want to be, believer?
If we believe in Jesus and have no desire to become like Him, we are not Christians.
There is nobody like Jesus. Everybody else has fallen short of the glory of God - Sinful, unfaithful, directionless, and hopeless. Only the believer has hope.
Yet, as believers when we desire to be anyone else but Christ, we open ourselves to a flood of spiritual attack. The world without Jesus has many paths. But all of them bring confusion and complexity (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Nothing we do in this world will last forever. Jesus died and rose again so we may live forever.
Jesus calls us to follow Him. To remain in His word. To love Him in obedience.
The life of Jesus will feel impossible to live if we don't rely on His word and give room for the Holy Spirit. Our feelings betray us more than we think. The heart is a deceitful thing - we cannot know it (Jeremiah 17:9,10) - without the Holy Spirit revealing to us our state. If the heart is bewitched by the devil, world or fleshly pursuits then the mind gets easily carried away. Where the treasure is, there is our heart’s desire. Treasure Christ.
WHAT MAKES CHRISTLIKENESS POSSIBLE?
Resting in Jesus through prayer and Bible meditation (Matthew 11:28)
Willingness to take up the yoke (Matthew 11:29,31)
Learning humility and lowliness of heart by studying the life of Jesus (Matthew 11:29)
Peter reminds us to follow the example Jesus laid out (1 Peter 2:24)
Jesus showed us an example (John 13:15)
Pattern our lives according to exemplary believers (Philippians 3:17)
Labour like Paul and the apostles (2 Thessalonians 3:8,9)
When we surrender by faith, the power of the Holy Spirit gives us rest, willingness and strength to live out Jesus daily. (Psalms 71:7)
We rely on many people and things in this life, but they will all perish. Take responsibility for your life in Christ.
Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.
