In our ladies' Discipleship Class we have been studying and discussing seven different areas that we would desire to be more like Christ.
1. Jesus was loving. I can pray and ask Jesus to make me more loving. In order for me to be loving I must first experience His love for me. When I experience His love, I can't help but love others.
2. Jesus was humble. He is Lord of the universe, yet, "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross.". Phil. 2:8. Even a fraction of His humility will get us a long way in this world, because it is such a rare commodity. I was challenged by being reminded of the steep price to pay for pride (and pride can be so slickly disguised, can't it?). "Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join forces, they will not go unpunished." Pro. 16:5. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.". Pro. 16:18. Nothing will speak louder to the world around me than my own humility, because it will be a refreshing departure from the norm.
3. Jesus was faithful. He never wavered from His conviction and knowledge of who He was and why He was here on earth. Even when He was tempted by Satan, He did not falter. I need to know with that same certainty who He really is, so I can know who I really am, then I won't waver. God, strengthen my inner being and make me faithful as You.
4. Jesus was giving. He gave of Himself to disciple a few men so that many lives would be touched. His ultimate gift was His life. When I feel I have nothing to give, God supplies it all. "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.". II Cor. 9:8.
5. Jesus was separate. He was in the world, but He was not part of the world. He came to touch the world, but He never became like the world. He was separate from the world, yet He changed the world around Him. I need that balance, too. I can't stay so separate that I have no touch with the outside world, nor can I be looking, living, talking, and acting so much like the world that people don't see anything different about me. Jesus never lost sight of where He was going. He always kept eternity in His perspective. I must do the same.
6. Jesus was obedient. He did not do anything on His own, even though He was Lord. He prayed and did not act until He had instructions from God. I must live that way, too. "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.". I John 2:6. Too often we can pray a "quick prayer" because it's the 'right thing to do' but we have our mind made up ahead of time and we aren't really asking God what His will is. We are self-sufficient.
Lord, help me to recognize my dependency upon You.
7. Jesus was light. I love this one! People are drawn to light. We want them to be drawn to the light of the Lord in us. "I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.". John 8:12. I want to be full of Light so that people will see that I have been with Jesus and I give them a reason for the light within me.
"Lord, transform me into Your likeness!
Make me so much like Christ that when people see me
they will want to know You better."
*notes taken from Stormie Omartian
