Created to be Like Jesus
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 2:6
God is molding us to be like Jesus which should be the goal of every Christian. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29) All those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior are predestined to conform to the image of Jesus. God is molding us to be like Jesus, and it helps that we seek to be like Jesus. First, we read about the life of Jesus, and we look at his heart in everything he speaks and does.
Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. (Deuteronomy 11:1) To become like Jesus, we must seek to obey all God’s commands in the Bible through the power of Christ. We should pray for the Lord’s guidance and power to fulfill his commands to his satisfaction. The Lord desires that we seek to become like Jesus, and when we ask, he will give us his love and power to succeed.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) We don’t become like Jesus overnight because it is a life-long process. The Lord guides us, through the Spirit, and, as we walk in obedience, we change to be more like Jesus.
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2) If we are to be imitators of Jesus, our hearts must be filled with God’s unconditional love. Love motivated Jesus and love motivates us.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22) If we do what the Word says, guided by the Spirit, the knowledge of the Word in our minds starts moving into our hearts. The Spirit will guide us to minister to people, then God’s love starts filling our hearts. The more we minister to others, the more God fills our hearts with his love. When our hearts are filling with God’s love, we are now becoming more like Jesus. Our focus leaves self and moves toward God and others.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7) Love gives us a close connection to the Lord and we see God in his divine glory. We see his infinite love and power, and we become smaller and more humble with a thankful heart. We are motivated by a heart of God’s unconditional love and we are closer to the Lord. We are now being like Jesus which makes all God’s commands the desire of our hearts. Love frees us from self.
Today, seek to be like Jesus and pray for the Lord’s guidance. Being like Jesus is what we are created to be, and it’s the most fulfilling life we can live.