03/02/2021
Do we desire to be more like Jesus with each passing day, and if so do we really know what He was like? Sometimes we think we know Him when we don’t; we take a human trait that we personally admire and attribute it to Him, but as we do so we are elevating Him in our own minds. When we do this we are in fact glorifying ourselves by modifying Jesus to accommodate an image we have of ourselves.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”
Philippians 2:4-5 ESV
To be like Jesus we need to know Him, but how do we go about doing that? The most certain and obvious way is to turn to scripture and read about His life in the gospel and the epistles, in this way we come to know Him through the eyes of those who walked with Him, and studied under Him, during His ministry and life. Our opening passage is from a letter that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, and is meant to describe to them Christ’s humility. Listen to His description...
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:3-8 ESV
When we read such things in scripture we should not only look on them as descriptions of Jesus, but as a detailed blueprint by which we can build our faith and lead our lives. It is nice to know that Jesus was humble, but what good does that do us if we don’t change our lives so that we too are humble? Much later, in the late 1800s, Andrew Murray delivered this same message to his church in South Africa...
“Each in their own measure would display in their lives the imprint of the cross through the denial of self and a growing conformity to Christ in His humility and the surrender of His will to the Father.” - Andrew Murray
So we see that knowing Jesus, and appreciating who He was when He walked the earth is not enough; we need to keep Him alive in us by taking Him into our hearts, and by allowing Him to abide in us as we live in whatever age we find ourselves.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 ESV
Even though we realize that we should live our lives as Jesus lived His, and behave as He did, changing is not an easy thing to do, because when we are talking about our basic personality traits many of them are as strong as instinct, and they have been engrained in us over time and by our earthly culture, but don’t fear... we are promised help...
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Paul speaks to the Galatians about the attributes of Jesus too, but he does so by describing them as the fruit of the Spirit. As we listen to what he writes, let’s pay special attention to one fruit in particular... self-control...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 ESV
So as we live out these attributes we must take control of ourselves. Sometimes we need to will ourselves to do these things while at other times we need to resist doing something that is contrary to what Christ is. As an example, we might be a member of a warrior race like the all female race of soldiers known as the Amazon’s, or the Spartans who were men of war, and our entire culture might be centered on waring, killing, and the honoring of might, but these things are not who Jesus is, so they must be changed if we are to follow Him. As members of warrior cultures such as these it would take great resolve, self-control, and might even cost us dearly. Are we ready for what lies ahead, and are we even capable of making this change alone? In many cases we are not, and must call out for help... and rest assured that help will come!
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word that speaks to us of who you are, and of who your Son is. Thank you Lord for teaching us through the life of Jesus how we are to live our own lives, and thank you for your promise of help us as we struggle to maintain our own self-control. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has given us a blueprint for righteousness, and holiness, by which we are to construct our lives. We praise your name Father for each time we struggle to be like Jesus, and begin to stumble, you catch us by the hand before we fall. You are mighty, even in humility, and you are not weak in your meekness as the world expects those who are meek to be. Witness our quest for a greater faith, and hear our prayers as we ask you to strengthen us in our belief. Find us worthy in Christ on our day of judgement, and welcome us joyfully to eternity with you. Be pleased in us just as you are pleased in Jesus Christ, and usher us into your home where we will live lift you up in worship forevermore.
Rich Forbes