Week 6 – Day 3

“BECOME LIKE JESUS”

When I share my faith, I love asking the question, “What do you think it means to be a Christian?” By far the most popular response is something like, “Christianity is about being a good person.” 

I understand why people think this. There are many rules in the Bible. As followers of Jesus, we try to obey God’s commands and love the world around us. When we do this, many perceive us to be “good people”.

When I read the gospels, I notice a consistent characteristic in the disciples: They were constantly making mistakes.

Incredibly, God’s vision for our lives is even greater.

BLESS THIS MESS

When I read the gospels, I notice a consistent characteristic in the disciples: They were constantly making mistakes.

  • Jesus often lamented their lack of faith.
  • Peter couldn’t stop putting his foot in his mouth. Once, he made such a huge mistake that Jesus claimed he was being influenced directly by Satan (see Matthew 16:23).
  • When Jesus shared his plan to self-sacrificially lay down his life for the sins of humanity, the twelve decided the timing was perfect to ask Jesus for a position of honor in his kingdom.

Jesus rarely got frustrated at anyone besides the religious leaders and his own twelve disciples. 

BECOMING LIKE JESUS

Amazingly, the disciples experienced a radical transformation during the story. 

  • The twelve were so terrified that they ran away when Jesus was crucified. Yet when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they boldly preached during intense persecution just a few months later.
  • John (who was once so angry that Jesus called him a “Son of Thunder”) became known for his writings on love.
  • Brash Peter eventually wrote be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (1 Peter 4:7 ESV)

Jesus rarely got frustrated at anyone besides the religious leaders and his own twelve disciples. 

On their journey with Jesus (both in-person and after he ascended to heaven through the presence of the Holy Spirit), the twelve were slowly changed. And when the Spirit filled them with power on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2), it was a breakthrough moment of transformation.

Through it all, God was shaping them toward his vision for their lives: becoming like Jesus.

MORE THAN JUST “NOT SINNING”

Paul described becoming like Jesus by writing: And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

A huge part of God’s vision for bearing fruit is that we are “transformed into the same image” as Jesus.

This is about more than “not sinning” or “doing good stuff”.

This is about more than “not sinning” or “doing good stuff”. This is us becoming like Jesus. Elsewhere, Paul writes that his greatest desire is that Christ would be fully developed in your lives. (Galatians 4:19 NLT)

The idea is that God wants us to become like Christ – to think, act, and speak as Jesus did. God wants our hearts to long for the things he cares for.

BECOMING IS NOT SEXY

In the verse above from 2 Corinthians, we learn two key components of becoming like Jesus.

First, we discover that becoming like Jesus is a process. We are “being transformed… from one degree of glory to another.“

Although there will be powerful, breakthrough moments in our lives, much of our journey with Jesus is a process. Most spiritual growth is not sexy or hype. When we wake up early to read scripture, fast from lunch, and labor in prayer, we often wonder if anything is happening.

If we isolate character transformation from our relationship with Christ, we will become self-righteous. On the outside, we may look impressive. But our hearts are full of darkness.

This passage gives us confidence that the Holy Spirit is helping us become like Jesus as we take steps on the journey.

Second, we discover that becoming like Jesus happens by being with Jesus. Paul writes that transformation happens when we “behold the glory of the Lord.” Another way to put this: abide in Jesus.

If we isolate character transformation from our relationship with Christ, we will become self-righteous. On the outside, we may look impressive. But our hearts are full of darkness. As we abide in Jesus, we will become holy without being “holier-than-thou.” 

WHAT DOES “BECOMING LIKE JESUS” LOOK LIKE?

As the Holy Spirit slowly transforms us to become like Christ, his character will become more and more evident in our lives. This is part of what it means to bear fruit.

Paul says that the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)

Jesus loved his most violent enemies. He carried peace into the most chaotic situations . He faithfully accomplished every detail of his mission.

Each character trait above was fully evident in the life of Jesus. He loved his most violent enemies (see Luke 23:34). He carried peace into the most chaotic situations (see Mark 4:35-41). He faithfully accomplished every detail of his mission (see John 14:31). He always spoke with self-control (see John 12:49).

As we walk by the power of the Spirit, God will transform us as well. We will show self-sacrificial love to our unkind co-workers, walk faithfully when no one is watching, discover peace during great stress, and learn to guard our tongues.

HOW TO BECOME LIKE JESUS

There are two keys to becoming like Jesus. 

The first is our daily practices (is this starting to sound familiar?). John Mark Comer says “To experience the life of Jesus, we must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.” 

God wants more than just “good people”. He wants us to think and act like Jesus, to desire the things that he wants.

This is why the practices of Jesus have been so essential on our North Star journey. The practices create space in our lives for the transforming presence of Jesus. They teach us to commit to the process of abiding.

As we practice scripture, prayer, and the rest, let us persevere with excitement. God is working his plan to radically transform us. He wants more than just “good people”. He wants us to think and act like Jesus, to desire the things that he wants.

God doesn’t drop divine patience, kindness, and goodness onto our doorsteps. He develops our character during the daily rhythms of our lives.

The second is to ask the Holy Spirit for help moment by moment, hour by hour. 

God doesn’t drop divine patience, kindness, and goodness onto our doorsteps. He develops our character during the daily rhythms of our lives. Our rude neighbor becomes God’s gift to grow love in our lives. Through the roadwork on our commute, God cultivates patience. You get the idea.

Step-by-step, day-by-day God helps us to become like Jesus.

NEXT STEPS

1: Read Mark 16.
2: Spend 10 minutes in Solitude, reflecting on what you learned. Pray using the P-R-A-Y method.
3: Remember to choose one day to fast lunch this week. Spend that time seeking God.
4: Continue to pray and plan to share your testimony with the 1-2 people in your life who don’t know Jesus over the next week.  
5: Text one friend one thing that you learned

Tomorrow: Week 6 – Day 4 – “Do What Jesus Did”