What Makes Us Like Jesus
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 Christians are predestined to conform the image of his Son, and what characteristic is it that make us more like Christ. What motivated Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, and why did he heal many people, and preach the good news to many people? Jesus love for the Father and his love for us is more than we imagine, and the love of the Father has for us that he sent his Son to live on earth, to teach us and to die for our sins.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31) God’s love fills our heart as we bring people to Christ, and love is the most critical characteristic that makes us like Christ. How can we conform to image of Christ without caring about people and hurting for lost souls?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Can we have the fruit of the Spirit without a heart of Love? These are the characteristics that people see in us. Every Christian should evaluate their life each day; did I reflect the fruit of the Spirit?
Self-Control and Patience is something Satan seeks to take away from us. The world can make us angry and cause us to lose self-control, and life situations can take away our patience. It is important to always reflect peace, in every situation in life, and we reflect self- control at all times. How can we reflect Christ without reflecting the fruit of the Spirit?
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (1 Timothy 1:7) Self-discipline comes from a heart of love, and God’s love takes away our fear. How can we show peace and joy, with a heart of fear? Jesus was fearful in the garden before he was flogged and crucified, but he was always showed self-control.
Today show a heart filled with God’s love, because that is why love is the most important command. Seek self-control and take away Satan’s temptations.
Prayer: Father, help me to reflect the fruit of the Spirit with a heart of love. In Jesus name, Amen