What Does It Mean To Be Like Jesus

What does it mean to love like Jesus?

QuestionAnswer A Christian aspires to be as much like Jesus as he or she is capable of becoming. Being like Jesus includes loving others as Jesus loved them. God’s ultimate objective is to mould us to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). Jesus was always obedient to the Father (John 8:29), He was completely pure in every aspect (Hebrews 4:15), and He loved mankind with an unwavering devotion (John 13:34). (Matthew 9:36; 14:14). It was He who instructed His followers to love one another in the same way that He had loved them (John 13:34).

The death of Jesus on the cross revealed His love for us, and He declared, “There is no greater love than this” (John 15:13).

When we love as Jesus loves, we are reminded of what it means to love like God loves: “God so loved the world that he sacrificed his one and only Son.” God’s love is selfless and self-sacrificing.

We are willing to give up money, our time, and our things in order to help other people in their needs.

  • When it is within our capacity to do so, we provide them with the assistance they require.
  • In His love, Jesus showed no preference for any group of people.
  • However, Jesus loved everyone, including His adversaries, and He expected His followers to do so as well (Luke 6:35).
  • (Matthew 27:20–22; Mark 10:20–22).
  • The Samaritans were reviled by the Jewish community, and Jesus made one of them the hero of a parable (Luke 10:25–37) in order to demonstrate his compassion for them.
  • Rich and poor, young and elderly, devout and pagan—people flocked to hear Jesus because He loved them.
  • Favouritism based on wealth or social standing is harshly condemned by the apostle James: “However, if you display favoritism, you sin and are punished by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9).

Working to eliminate racial prejudice, socio-economic superiority, and religious superiority from our hearts is essential.

However, we must not confuse love with unconditional approval of whatever a person does.

He was brutally honest with the Pharisees, religious authorities, and others who professed to love Him but were more concerned with their own lives.

(Matthew 23:13; Matthew 23:16.) When the religious authorities confronted him, Jesus warned them that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” would be let into the kingdom of heaven.

Those who weren’t fully committed were perplexed when Jesus told them, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and then looks back is qualified for the kingdom of heaven” (Luke 9:62).

A wealthy young ruler came to Jesus with good intentions, but he refused to submit to Jesus’ authority (Luke 18:18–25).

He was more concerned with his money, and Jesus gently pointed out the young man’s avarice.

Jesus never modified the truth in order to appease the “itching ears” of those who heard Him speak (see 2 Timothy 4:3).

He loved them enough to do all of this (Luke 23:34).

When we have been wronged, we are quick to forgive (Matthew 6:14; Ephesians 4:32).

However, Jesus forgave them and instructed us to do the same (Mark 11:25).

Jesus does not keep our forgiven crimes against us; rather, He declares us to be clean and healed in Him (1 John 1:9).

As soon as we forgive someone, we are free to love and pray for that person with a clear conscience, knowing that we have followed God’s instruction to do so (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32).

As long as we love Jesus, we will also love what He loves, which is other people. And when we practice loving as He loved, we grow in our ability to be more like Him. Questions concerning the Christian Life (return to top of page) What does it mean to love in the way that Jesus did?

Subscribe to the

Get our Question of the Week emailed to your inbox every weekday morning! Got Questions Ministries is a trademark of Got Questions Ministries, Inc., registered in the state of California in the year 2002. All intellectual property rights are retained. Policy Regarding Personal Information The information on this page was last updated on January 4, 2022.

What Does it Mean to “Become More Like Jesus?” — Preston Sprinkle

I’m one of those people that has a hypersensitive antenna for Christian clichés, to say the least. Some refer to it as a BS meter. It picks up on all types of chit-chat that is broadcast over the church’s airwaves and requires an answer in writing. Consequently, when I hear Christians express a desire to “become more like Jesus,” my meter goes crazy. Not that it’s a negative thing in and of itself. Becoming more like Jesus is a positive development. But what exactly is this beneficial development?

  1. What does it have a scent like?
  2. When individuals say they wish to become more like Jesus, they are often referring to their desire to become a more moral individual.
  3. Although I have a strong sense that if we looked closely at Jesus without using our present moralistic prism, less people would desire to become more like Jesus.
  4. The majority of his buddies were either criminals or involved in bad activities.
  5. Drunks, gluttons, fornicators and robbers were among the people with whom he spent the most of his time.
  6. Religious people were enraged by practically everything Jesus said and did, and they were right.
  7. At first glance, there are remarkable parallels between Roman principles and American values.

Our addiction to comfort and security, as well as the worldly belongings that we load into our bloated barns, is a reflection of the PAX ROMANA, but it is a far cry from the peace of Christ, which involves simplicity, suffering, and death, as described in the Gospel of John.

And this enraged a large number of individuals.

Any of you who does not renounce everything he has cannot be my follower, says the Lord (Luke 14:33).

In his very first speech, Jesus said that he had been “anointed.to deliver good news to the poor.” This was the cornerstone sermon (Luke 4:18).

Luke 6:20).

Are you a practicing Christian?

If Jesus truly means what He says in Matthew 25, would you receive a favorable or unfavorable judgement on the day of judgment?

It’s the age-old evangelical adage, “If today were your last day on earth and God were to approach you and ask, “Why should I let you into my kingdom?” what would you say?

Following the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25, one of the things you SHOULD say—indeed, one of the things we all need to say—is “I served the least of these.” As we grow in our ability to be more like (the biblical) Jesus, we must learn to be overly giving with our worldly abundance while yet smelling of poverty on our hands and feet.

  • According to Jesus’ words in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you”; and “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his or her life for his or her friends” (John 15:13).
  • They have every right to believe this.
  • He had experienced it.
  • Agapelove is the glue that holds Christians together and links us to the heart of our triune God, and it is this love that bonds us together (John 17:26).
  • He extends love to encompass one’s adversaries as well as one’s friends (Matt 5:44-45).
  • When people think of Christians, they think of those who, like Jesus, love their adversaries.
  • Many components of Jewish law were likewise supported by Jesus, as well.

For example, when it came to sexual regulations like desire and adultery, as well as divorce and remarriage, Jesus was much more stringent than other rabbis of his time.

Except in the case of fornication, divorce is out of the question, and simply looking at a woman is considered adultery.

It is in Jesus’ famous appeal to come die with him that we see the full extent of his hard-hitting, enemy-loving, harlot-embracing, wild-eyed style of life portrayed.

‘When Jesus summons a man, he dares him to come and die.’ Deitrich Bonhoeffer used to say this.

Would they acknowledge a sub-section of humanity that is characterized by self-denial, enemy-love, and a sexual morality that is contrary to popular culture?

Or would we become one with those who are “lovers of self, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (1 Tim 3), and fit in with the rest of the pack? When compared to the religious and political dominant culture, Jesus appeared to be rather different. Do we, or don’t we?

What Does It Mean To Look Like Jesus? — Think Eternity with Matt Brown

The ultimate objective of every Christian is to resemble Jesus in appearance. In order to “look like Jesus,” I don’t mean that they should emulate His physical appearance, but that they should emulate Him in both large and minor parts of their life in order to be the blessing that He was on earth, and to receive the rewards that come with obedience to the pursuit of God. This is what we all desire, yet so few of us believe that we are developing at the rate that we would like.

One the biggest challenges in striving to look like Jesus is starting with the wrong picture of what it means to look like Jesus.

Years ago, I believed that being “radical” for God entailed having a strong emotional connection with myself and others, praying for long periods of time, denying myself as much as possible simply for the sake of denying myself as much as possible, and other self-inflicting practices that would eventually lead to looking more like Jesus.

To me back then, “zeal” was the epitomy of what it meant to look like Jesus.

I believed this because of the role models I had at Bible college, many of whom I now see were demonstrably unChristlike in their behavior and attitudes. Those passages in the Bible about the importance of a Christian having compassion, love, and kindness left me scratching my head, wondering why I wasn’t seeing these qualities in my role models or myself – it was beginning to dawn on me that God had a different picture of Himself than I did of Himself. Larry Osborne, author of Sticky Teams, has a perspective that is similar: “Living a life that continuously displays the character of Jesus Christ is what spiritual development is.

It means character.

They just so happen to be jerks as well.” Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5.

God has given us a clear filter of what it means to look like Jesus in all areas of our lives: in our thoughts, actions, words and relationships.

What are we saying or doing filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindliness, and gentleness? Is what we are saying or doing filled with a lot of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness? If this is the case, it is most likely not of the Spirit. According to Scripture, “when the Holy Spirit dominates our life,” we shall demonstrate these characteristics in more and greater proportion.

See also:  What A Friend We Have In Jesus Images

The fruit of the Spirit in your own life is what helps you be fruitful in the world.

God did not just provide us with a clear vision of what it means to look like His Son, and then equip us to do so through the power of His Spirit, in order for us to have a bland personality in the world. Instead of being simply cardboard cutouts that we heard about in Sunday School, the fruits of the Spirit are dynamic character characteristics that have the ability to influence every part of our lives and relationships, as well as provide us with success in anything we do. These are the characteristics of Jesus that we should hold up as models for our own lives.

During the process of allowing the Lord to alter our hearts, we hope that we will develop in these characteristics and that they will become more and more active in how we act and react to others that cross our way on a regular basis.

This is the type of thing I want to see more of in my life. I hope you feel the same way. I believe it will be really beneficial to us.

The essence of being ‘Christ-like’

  • Believers are summoned by God to live in the present moment as though they were already in eternity. This suggests that we are not just living for this life, but are also preparing for the hereafter. Having an eternal perspective permits us to live the sort of life that will benefit us in the here and now and for eternity. We please God and gain rewards in Heaven by living our lives in the manner of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ never accomplished anything unless it was in the service of bringing glory to His heavenly Father. Christ, of course, was without flaw. He never sinned, and he always followed God’s instructions. However, since we are ‘in Christ,’ we have the potential to live lives that are spiritually meaningful as well. In Christ, we have the power to carry out God’s will as well as our own. Christians are urged to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” according to the Bible. (Ephesians 4:1) The Bible says: Rather of living to please ourselves, we live to please God and his purposes. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to build the character of Christ in our lives. We have the potential to transcend human limits on a spiritual level as a result of this empowerment. We have the ability to begin experiencing our everlasting existence right now, at this very now. In order to live like Christ and with the character of Christ, it is necessary to grasp the notion of “eternity now.” Our inner attributes are provided to us by the Holy Spirit as a result of our being enabled by Him. We are therefore able to conduct our lives in accordance with God’s will, carrying out God’s task in God’s way. This is the essence of what it means to be “Christ-like.” “Be absolutely humble and kind with one another
  • Be patient, bearing with one another in love,” urges Ephesians 4:2. When He went to the cross to suffer for our sins, Christ demonstrated His humility. He is patient and merciful with everyone who comes to Him in repentance. He is patient with us, and he loves us with an unwavering passion. Being modest, kind, patient, and loving while living in eternity now is essential. We are unable to accomplish any of this without the help of Christ and His Spirit. And if we do not follow God’s instructions, He will not enable us. However, if we surrender ourselves to Christ in humility, He will give us the ability to fly beyond our current circumstances. We may actually live a life that is worthwhile. “We have been formed to be like God in real righteousness and holiness,” according to the Scriptures. (See also Ephesians 4:24.) God has planned an abundant life for you, not only in Heaven, but also right here on Earth right now. If you follow Christ, love others, and seek God’s will, you have the potential to be living in eternity right now. Dan Rhodes is the pastor of the Christian Community Church in Mesquite, which is located at 233 N. Sandhill Blvd.

What Does it Mean to “Become More Like Jesus?”

Faithful people are being summoned by God to live in the present moment of eternity. The implication is that we are not only living for this life, but are also preparing for the hereafter. We may live a life that has everlasting advantages because we have the perspective of eternity on our side. We please God and gain blessings in Heaven when we live our lives in the manner of the Lord Jesus Christ. Except for what He did to glorify His heavenly Father, Christ never did anything else. Christ, of course, was faultless.

  1. Our opportunity to live spiritually important lives is enhanced further by the fact that we are ‘in Christ.’ The ability to carry out God’s will is also a part of our salvation in Christ.
  2. (Ephesians 4:1) The Bible states that To the contrary, we live in order to please God rather than ourselves.
  3. We have the potential to transcend human constraints on a spiritual level as a result of our empowerment.
  4. In order to live like Christ and with the character of Christ, it is necessary to grasp the notion of “eternity now”.
  5. When we live in God’s will and accomplish God’s job in God’s manner, we are able to fulfill our potential.
  6. By going to the cross to suffer for our sins, Christ demonstrated His humility.
  7. He is patient with us, and he loves us with an unwavering devotion.

Nothing we undertake will be successful unless Christ empowers us via the power of the Holy Spirit inside us.

We shall, nevertheless, be able to fly above our limitations if we commit ourselves to Christ in humility.

“We are designed to be like God in pure righteousness and holiness,” according to the Bible.

The rich life that God has prepared for you is not only in Heaven, but is also available to you right now on this planet.

233 N.

in Mesquite; Dan Rhodes is the pastor of the Christian Community Church;

What does it mean to love like Jesus?

As Christians, we strive to be like Jesus in all aspects of our lives, including our love for one another. But what exactly does this mean? “Anyone who does not love does not know God, since God is love,” states the Bible’s first chapter and verse, John 4:8. This scripture demonstrates to us that if we know God, we will love one another. What does it mean for us to love like Jesus, given that he is the manifestation of God’s love? Let’s have a look at what He demonstrated. Jesus stated in John 15:13 that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, and He died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).

  1. The majority of us will not be called upon to die in the service of another.
  2. When we do this, we are loving in the manner of Jesus, acting on behalf of others rather than acting out of selfishness (Philippians 2:11–13).
  3. “God loves the world so much that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16; cf.
  4. Showing compassion to people who are suffering, both verbally and physically, is a means for us to love like Jesus.
  5. In the first chapter of John, verses 16–17, it says: “We may recognize love in the fact that he laid down his life for us, and we should do the same for our brothers.
  6. This is the question.” Generosity is a practical approach for us to love in the way that Jesus did.
  7. It is up to us to decide how we will manage the resources He has provided for us (Matthew 25:14–30).

He was in love with everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic class, cultural background, or race.

It is not difficult to love those who are similar to us; even nonbelievers are capable of doing so.

Jesus tended to and supplied healing and nourishment to those who would eventually betray and kill Him, according to the Gospels (John 13:4–5; Matthew 27:20–22).

Jesus’ love for people, as recorded in Mark 10:1, Matthew 9:35–38, and Luke 18:18, was a significant factor in drawing them to Him.

Love does not imply unquestioning approval of what someone else does.

He labeled the Pharisees “hypocrites!” and “blind guides!” He also called them “blind guides!” (Matthew 23:13; Matthew 23:16.) Not everyone who says to Jesus, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, he cautioned.

God’s will must be followed in order to be a real believer.

When Jesus spoke with the rich young ruler, He pointed out that, despite the fact that the guy had noble intentions, he was more concerned with his money than he was with Jesus.

Jesus was compassionate in His honesty, educating and challenging believers rather than watering down the truth in order to make people feel more comfortable with their beliefs (see 2 Timothy 4:3).

When we forgive people as Christ has forgiven us, we are showing that we love like Jesus (Matthew 6:14; Ephesians 4:32).

As a result, resentment begins to grow in our hearts, making place for no longer being able to love.

The fact that we have forgiven someone does not imply that we will not face repercussions for our crimes or the sins of others; rather, when we forgive someone, it means that we may pray for them and love them without feeling bitter in our hearts, as God demands (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32).

  1. It is through our love for others that people are able to recognize Jesus in us: “I offer you a new commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.
  2. If you have love for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples as a result of your actions “(See also John 13:34–35.) And it is by loving others as Jesus did that we continue to grow in our understanding of Him.
  3. God’s love is greater than human understanding (Ephesians 3:14–21; Romans 8:31–39).
  4. Truths that are related: In what way does agape love differ from other forms of love?

The Bible says to tell the truth in love, but what does that mean? Read on to find out. Is there anything in the Bible that speaks about coping with difficult people? What can I do to become more Christlike (Christ-like) in my life? Return to the page Truth about the Christian Way of Life

In What Ways Are Christians Called To Be Like Jesus?

In what ways are Christians called to imitate the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?

See also:  Place Where Jesus Was Baptized

Christians

Christians are known as Christians because they have been brought to repentance and trust in Christ by the Holy Spirit. We link ourselves with Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church, because the “Christ” component of the word “Christian” means “Christ-follower.” When I was younger, I heard someone say that being a Christian was like being labeled a “little Christ,” but there’s a lot more to it than that. To be a Christian means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, to speak what Jesus said, to believe what Jesus taught, and to act as if we have done all of these things for ourselves.

Can we not follow in the footsteps of the Son of God, who humbled Himself to the point of emptying His Splendour, or in hiding the Shekinah glory that Jesus has as God, and so become a servant to everyone?

Having His Humility

Here was God Himself, depriving Himself of His full, resplendent glory, and coming to earth to be born of flesh, but only in order to save flesh, as the Apostle John wrote, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

When Jesus washed the feet of His followers, including the one who would betray Him, John witnessed His grandeur, but he also witnessed His humility.

God would never utilize someone who is overflowing with self-importance because He will never be able to fill them!

Christ living in Us

Although Paul speaks of Jesus Christ as being in us and living in us, he also states that we are in Christ, so what’s the distinction? The Holy Spirit is in all believers, and as a result, He is both in us and with us in the sense of our fellowship with Him and our relationship with one another. It is possible to be secure from the wrath of God by believing in Christ, who serves as their righteousness (2nd Cor 5:21). As a result, God no longer sees our sin but rather the righteousness of Christ in us.

  1. Instead of me, it is Christ who now lives in me and gives me life.
  2. Although he did not become sinless overnight (Rom 7:7-11), he did become less sinful as a result of his conversion.
  3. I’m the vine, and you’re the branches on which I grow.
  4. Whether you’re not abiding in the True Vine, then the True Vine is not abiding in you, and it’s time to check yourself to determine if you’re truly in the faith, according to the scriptures (2nd Cor 13:5).

Every one of us should do a self-examination, so “be much the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you exercise these traits, you will never fall” (2nd Pet 1:10).

Share in His Sufferings

We shouldn’t be startled when we experience pain. If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first, and that it will hate you even more if the world hates you first (John 15:18). If you’re liked by the world and you love the world, there’s something really wrong with you (or with me) if you name yourself (or myself) a Christian, for the apostle John writes, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” “If somebody loves the world, he does not have the love of the Father in him” (1st John 2:15).

God’s purpose for Christians includes pain, and just as “we participate abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too,” thus “we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2nd Cor 1:5).

Share in His Persecutions

During His discourse about the end of the age, Jesus emphasized to His followers that “you will be despised by all for the sake of my name.” Those who persevere to the end, however, will be rescued” (Matt 10:22). Jesus addresses the disciples as if they were members of His own home, telling them, “It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and for the servant to be like his master.” “How much more will they defame the members of his household if they have already defamed the lord of the home, Beelzebul?” (Matt 10:25).

As the Apostle Peter wrote to the scattered Jewish Christians in 1 Peter 4:13, “rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed,” and this is followed by a great blessing from God, as Peter writes,”If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14), and therefore “do not be surprised when the fiery trial comes on you (1st Pet 4:12).

Conclusion

We must be abiding in His Word, so that His Word will abide in us and we can be in Christ and He in us; we must not be surprised by suffering for His name’s sake, but rather we should be surprised if we never suffer persecution because “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:14). (2nd Tim 3:12). All in the Greek language means exactly what it says.all! It is possible that you will hear some very serious words from Jesus someday if you are not living in humility before others, reading His Word, the Bible, and suffering persecution because of your faith in Christ (Matt 7:21-23).

(Matt 10:33).

is a related reading resource.

Permission has been granted to use. All intellectual property rights are retained. Assigned to the following tags: be like Jesus,Christian Answers,WWJD

5 Ways We Are Called To Be Like Jesus

Here are five ways in which we are expected to imitate Jesus.

Forgiving Others Who Hate Us

Similar to how Jesus pleaded with the Father for forgiveness on the day He was nailed to the cross (Luke 23:34) and Stephen pleaded with the people who were stoning them to death (Acts 7:6), we must also forgive those who hate us or abuse us despite our best efforts. I’m not suggesting they can physically harm us, but those who criticize us or despise us because of our religious beliefs are.

Giving our Lives for Others

According to what I think Jesus taught His followers and what I believe He intends for us to learn, there is no “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). However, it does not necessarily imply that we must die to ourselves and serve one another, nor does it imply that we must lay down our lives in the name of Christ for those who are not yet believers. New Get the daily Faith In The News story sent to your Facebook Messenger inbox. – To get started, simply click on the blue button.

Praying for our Enemies

Investigate other religious traditions to determine whether or not they teach and practice the concept of loving our enemies and praying for them. The standard set by Jesus Christ, who said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven,” is a higher standard for Christians to live up to. Since God makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust, he is the source of all good and evil (Matt 5:44-45).

Sharing in His Suffering

Did you ever consider that we are invited to partake in Christ’s sufferings? Did you ever consider that we are meant to suffer with Christ? Not in the same way, of course (Isaiah 53), but we are instructed to “rejoice in proportion to your participation in Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also rejoice and be pleased when his glory is shown.” If you are offended because of the name of Christ, consider yourselves happy because the Spirit of God’s glory and blessing sits upon you” (1st Pet 4:13-14).

Called as His Witnesses

Although Jesus was sent to His own people, He did share the gospel with certain Gentiles and even a Roman centurion, and we, too, must be sharing the gospel with the unbelievers in our day. We are sent throughout the entire world, just as the disciples were (Matt 28:19-20), but we must not lose sight of people who reside just next door. As Jesus talked about the need for repentance and faith, we must preach the same message, because it was His message about the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15), and it must be our message as well.

Conclusion

To follow Jesus’ command to be forgiving of others, to give of ourselves to others, to love and pray for our enemies, to share in his sufferings for the sake of the gospel, and to be witnesses for Him in proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ but also the bad news for those who reject Him as Lord and Savior are all important (John 3:18; 36b).

May God richly bless you,

Blog Post Promoter has republished this article.

Created to Become Like Christ

You were made to be like Christ in every way. God’s intention for you has been to become like His Son, Jesus, since the beginning of time. This is your destiny, and it is also the third and last goal of your life. God made this goal clear throughout the Creation: “Then God said, “Let Us make human beings in Our image and likeness,” which means “Let Us make human beings in Our likeness.” – Genesis 1:26 (NASB) Only human beings have been created “in God’s image” out of all of creation.

This is a huge honor and provides us with a sense of dignity. We are not familiar with the entirety of what this phrase encompasses, however we are aware of some of the features it includes: God, for example.

  • We are spiritual creatures – our souls are immortal and will outlive our earthly bodies
  • We are intellectual beings – we have the ability to reason, reason and solve issues
  • And we are spiritual beings.
  • The fact that we are relational means that we can both give and receive genuine love
  • The fact that we have moral consciousness means that we can distinguish between what is good and wrong means that we are answerable to God
See also:  Where Is Galilee In Jesus Time

According to the Bible, all persons, not just believers, bear a portion of God’s image, which is why murder and abortion are considered immoral by God (see Genesis 9:6; Psalm 139:13-16; James 3:9). However, the image is imperfect and has been destroyed and deformed as a result of human sin. In order to restore the whole picture that we had lost, God sent Jesus on a mission to restore it. What does God’s “full image and likeness” look like in its entirety? It has the appearance of Jesus Christ!

  • When referring to a family resemblance, the expression “like father, like son” is frequently heard.
  • God desires for His children to reflect His image and likeness as well.
  • designed to be like God, completely righteous and holy,” according to the Bible.
  • That arrogant falsehood is one of Satan’s most ancient temptations.
  • Numerous faiths and New Age ideologies continue to propagate the ancient deception that we are divine or have the potential to become gods.
  • However, as animals, we will never be able to compete with the Creator.
  • Follow God’s lead and live a God-fashioned lifestyle, one that is refreshed from the inside out and manifests itself in your actions as God faithfully reproduces His character in you, according to Ephesians 4:22-24.
  • He desires for you to mature spiritually and become more like Christ.
  • God created your individuality, and He has no desire to see it destroyed in any way.

God’s desire is for you to develop the kind of character described in the beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5:1-12), in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), in Paul’s great chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13), and in Peter’s list of the characteristics of an effective and productive life (Ephesians 4:12-13).

  • Each and every time you lose sight of the fact that developing character is one of God’s goals for your life, you will get dissatisfied by your situation.
  • What is it about this situation that I am having such a tough time with?
  • It is this that allows us to progress.
  • Several Christians mistake Jesus’ promise of a “abundant life” (John 10:10), interpreting it to mean perfect health, an easy lifestyle, perpetual enjoyment, the full fulfilment of your desires, and immediate respite from worries, all of which are not true.
  • They are looking forward to heaven on earth.
  • God, on the other hand, is not your servant, and if you buy into the notion that life is intended to be simple, you will either become horribly disillusioned or live in denial of truth.
  • You exist to serve God’s purposes, not the other way around.

God grants us the opportunity to use our time on earth to develop and improve our character in preparation for paradise. Excerpted with permission from Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, which is owned by Zondervan. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Your Turn

You’ve probably thought to yourself, “Why is this happening to me?” The reason for my difficulties is not clear to me.” Have you ever said to God, “God, I believe I have enough character now, thankyouverymuch” in your prayers? It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that life isn’t all about us. Come and participate in the discussion on our blog! Would love to hear about how God has strengthened your character as you have gone through challenging situations! Devotionals are posted every day.

How to Become More Like Jesus Christ

Because of our living prophet, our leaders, and the scriptures, we may learn how to become perfect in the same way that Jesus Christ was perfect. There is no invitation or example that can compare to the one that comes directly from Jesus Christ himself. “Therefore, what sort of gentlemen ought ye to be?” he inquired. “Truly, I say unto you, even as I am,” I declare. We can follow Him if we want to become more like Him. Dieter F. Uchtdorf was a teacher. The ability to learn from Christ’s character is essential to following him.

  • The Savior asks us to learn about His message by putting His teachings into action in our lives.
  • Listed below are five easy characteristics that you may begin working on right away to become more like Him.
  • Generosity and affection Christ had compassion for all people, including those who opposed Him.
  • How to cultivate generosity and love on a daily basis: Ask God to fill you with the same compassion and love that He and Jesus Christ have for everyone, and look for opportunities to provide a helping hand.
  • Mastery of the subject Although you may not always have your physical goods, your education is something you will have for the rest of your life.
  • Study the words of living prophets every day and seek secular and spiritual knowledge by attending school, gaining new talents, and reading books about spirituality.
  • The ability to be patient.

No one exemplified patience more effectively than Christ.

How to cultivate patience on a daily basis: Be patient with your everyday experiences and with each and every one of your relationships, including your connection with yourself.

A spirit of humility Despite the fact that Christ was the sole flawless person who ever lived, He was never arrogant.

Some people believe that humility is a sign of weakness.

How to cultivate humility on a daily basis: Express your thankfulness to God for everything you have and everything you have accomplished.

Have confidence in your ability to do anything when you rely on Him.

Obedience to authority Following God’s commands or spiritual promptings may require you to do actions that you may not completely comprehend.

In his message, President Uchtdorf reminds us that “when we have confidence in Christ, we trust the Lord enough to keep His commandments—even when we may not totally comprehend the reasons for them.” How to cultivate obedience on a daily basis: Study the Ten Commandments of God.

As you act on your faith and obey God, as Jesus did, your understanding of God will expand, and your desire to be obedient will grow along with it.

Many of them are already in your possession.

It will take effort and time to develop all of them, but you will be able to do so with the assistance of Heavenly Father. Be willing and eager to make small but significant improvements every day, one decision at a time. You will grow more like Jesus Christ as a result of your actions.

You Look Like Jesus!

My hair is rather long. Recently, a Christian guy approached me and asked, “Don’t you know that it is an abomination to God for a man to wear long hair?” I said, “Yes, I know that.” By correcting his misquotation of 1 Corinthians 11:14, I may have gotten him to agree with me. Instead, I could have demonstrated to him the cultural reasons why Paul’s comments don’t actually apply to us in the modern era. I might have stated that even though having long hair was considered dishonorable, perhaps the reason I had long hair was because I desired to be dishonored as much as possible.

  1. However, none of these things were spoken by me.
  2. So, rather of attempting to demonstrate to the man how incorrect he was, I simply cracked a joke.
  3. He looked at me for a split second before exclaiming, “Blasphemer!” and walking away.
  4. My clumsy effort at a joke sparked some thought in me.
  5. In reality, the term “Christian” is short for “little Christ.” I am concerned, though, that we have misconstrued what it means to be like Jesus in appearance.
  6. Verily!” It does not imply that we dress in long robes, grow long hair, or wear long robes.
  7. I’m now really considering chopping my hair.) We don’t have to set up a Jesus statue on our front lawns and shine spotlights on it in order to appear like Jesus.
  8. Even dressing in the manner of Jesus does not imply that we would feed the hungry, heal the sick, or perform miracles.

What does it mean to look like Jesus?

The fact that we look like Jesus implies that others will want to spend out with us for the same reasons they wanted to hang out with Jesus, among other things. Looking like Jesus implies that we will be able to perceive what God is actually up to in this world and that we will strive to participate in His mission. As Christians, dressing and speaking in the manner of Jesus implies that we will not be recognized in a crowd because of our appearance or what we are saying, but rather because of what we stand up for—or, more specifically, who we stand up for.

Jesus does not want us to have the same appearance as He does.

Once upon a time, it was fashionable to try to live our lives by constantly asking ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”.

I don’t believe Jesus wants us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” and then go out and try to do what he says.

No, I believe Jesus wants us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus have me do?” and then go out and do it. This implies that, while we may not appear to be like Jesus, we shall act and behave in the manner that Jesus desires.

That Looks Like Jesus….

Every now and then, my buddy Sam Riviera will comment on church events or theological themes with the phrase “That looks like Jesus.” After redoing much of my life and theology over the past many years, I’ve come to the conclusion that using this “Jesus lens” while making judgments about life and theology is a helpful guide. While it is possible that Jesus did not say anything about the social/political/theological topics of homosexual marriage, immigration reform, or mega churches, we do know enough about Jesus from the Gospels to be able to infer the general tenor or trajectory of Jesus’ life from which we can make an educated guess about what He might have said if He had.

), and social issues (such as what Jesus would say about immigration reform).

(And, no, I’m not abandoning my current series on Calvinism just yet.

It would be great if you could “vote” for one series over the other by sharing posts from that series on your social media sites and leaving blog comments.) Next week, I’ll be releasing my first (or second, depending on how you look at it, because this is the first) post in the “Looks Like Jesus” series.

In future postings, I will examine many theological and social challenges through the lens of Jesus, in order to see how we may respond to these difficulties in the same way that Jesus did.

Do you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see covered in the future?

When it comes to theological and social concerns, what should be considered?

Thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.