What it means to become more like Jesus
“Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.”
1 John 2:6 (MSG)
Nobody is perfect. Think of the holiest saints or religious figures you can imagine. All of them have flaws. Thankfully, the Bible doesn’t teach us that we need to become 100% like Jesus or perish. However, it does teach us that we should strive to be more like Him and follow His example.
Becoming more like Jesus
Jesus is the ultimate example of moral character, loving others, doing good and hoping in God. To grow in these qualities, we must first grow closer to Jesus. We can do this by spending time in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, which chronicles the events of Jesus’ life and afterward.
We can also spend more time praying to God, fellowshipping with other people striving to become more Christlike and being more charitable toward others, especially those outside of the church.
Becoming more Christlike is a process
No one can become Christlike on their own. Only through the work and guidance of the Holy Spirit in us can we begin our journey toward becoming Christlike. It’s important to recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence in your own life to allow Him to grow you and change you. For some — let’s be honest, for many — this is a long and even painful process that requires a lot of change and sacrifice. As Jesus is recorded saying in the book of Luke:
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat — I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I’m leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn’t, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:23-27 (MSG)
You’re not alone on your journey to becoming more like Jesus
At Centerpoint Church, we are a community of believers who strive to grow closer to God and become more like Jesus every day. If you’re looking for people to walk beside you on your own journey of growth, we’d love to get to meet you!