06/19/2020
Are we living a Christlike life? Do we want to be pleasing to God, or even more than that, do we want to be like God... perfect? To some this might sound like heresy, but we should always want to do as He does, and be as He is, because isn’t that what Jesus is, and doesn’t He tell us that He abides in us, and we in Him? So if Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s nature, and being like Him is our great desire, then being like God should be our greatest desire. Knowing Jesus we then know God.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”
Hebrews 1:3 ESV
There is an old saying that goes like this: “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.”, but shouldn’t we want to be more that simple imitations when it comes to Jesus, and God? Oh, imitating them is a good start, but being like them goes much further than that. Nonetheless, we are told to imitate them because that is a good place for us to begin...
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
I loved to play the game of baseball when I was young, and certain Major League Baseball players became my heroes. I wanted to bat like them, field the ball like them, and be just as good at the game as they were. When I stood outside the dugout in the batter’s circle I rubbed my bat as they did, I took just as many practice swings as they did, and I went down on one knee once I was ready... just as they did. When I came up to the plate to bat I held one hand out to the umpire to hold up play, and kept one foot outside the batter’s box while I rubbed the ground smooth with my leading foot and dug my toe into the red sand. Then, almost ready, I would bring my trailing foot in, grasp my bat with both hands and stare at the pitcher as I dug that foot into the sand, and took a couple of practice swings. Finally, I would move my big wad of chewing gum around in my cheek (meant to imitate chewing tobacco), and spit defiantly on the ground as my heroes did ... I was ready! Although I couldn’t hit the ball as they could, I imitated all of their intricate preparations, and looked forward to the day when I could hit the ball just as far, run just as fast, and do all of the things they could do. In our faith we should pay attention to even the smallest details of Christ’s character, and strive to be like Him. We might not be perfect as He is, but we are preparing ourselves for that coming day, and in that way we are working to perfect ourselves as God is perfect. Jesus Himself tells us to be this way...
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 ESV
So imitating is good, and is excellent practice for the coming day when we will no longer just imitate Jesus, and God, but be as they are... perfect. When this day comes we will truly know what is meant by abiding in Christ, and He in us...
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:4-5 ESV
and we will know the extension of that by feeling the full impact of abiding in God as well, because just as we will be in Jesus, He is in God, thus we will be there too...
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
John 14:20 ESV
So are we living like Jesus? Are we still imitating His every action, and characteristic, or have we matured, and perfected ourselves to the point where those things are no longer imitations... but who we have become? Being like Jesus should be out great desire as we live out our life of faith, but our greatest desire should be the same as Christ’s... to be like our Heavenly Father... God.
“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
John 14:23 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for showing me who you are, and who your Son Jesus is as I read your Word, and study the gospel of Christ. Thank you Father for your Holy Spirit who teaches me first to imitate, and then to become perfect as you are. Thank you for my walk of faith in Jesus, because through Him I come to abide in you, and you in me. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who desires to be with me, and for me to be together as one with you. Praised be your name Lord for all the times that I have imitated Jesus, and prepared to be perfect like Him, as He is perfect like you. Merciful are you for your grace, and forgiveness, as I strive for that perfection and fall short. Strong is your arm, and patience, as you lift me up, and cleanse me in the blood of Jesus so that I can try again. You are glorious Father, and all glory is yours. I pray for that day when I can stand before you and sing your praises... perfect in the robe of Christ, and pleasing in your sight. Until that day I imitate you, and learn to be as you are, but in that day I will be in you, and you in me forevermore... bound together in love for eternity.
“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:12-14 ESV
Rich Forbes