“Just like Jesus?”: by Angie Paxton
“Just like Jesus?”
Sometime we say I want to be just like Jesus. I want to be more like him. But do we really? Is it just words? First I must say we are not Jesus nor are we a god. We are being conformed into His image not becoming Him. The only way this happens and can happen is if we place our faith in what He did at the Cross and then the Holy Spirit will work in us.
Sometimes we sing a song or say phrases without really meaning what the words are saying. Like “I surrender all” Do we really mean that? These scriptures show some of what Jesus went about doing. We say: “I want to be just like Jesus” Do we really mean it or is it just words??
He Preached:
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…
He did this even though it was taking Him to a place that He would have to die for.
Love as He loves:
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…
The bible says we are to love like him, do we??? He gave himself for the church… What actions did He take that we are not willing to take because that means we would have to die to self. This is not just for husbands, but all believers…
Touched a Leper:
Matthew 8:2-4 …there came a leper…And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him…
Do we reach out to others no matter where they are at in life?
He took paths that would led him to help another that by tradition He should not have helped:
John 4:3-9 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Now Jacob’s well was there. …There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
He had compassion:
Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them…
Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them…
He sat down and talked with sinners:
Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Please don’t think this means we can go do the things they do or be like them. We are to live lives that are holy and acceptable unto God. But sometimes we pick and choose who we will talk to or we avoid others that are not christians. Who will tell them??? How will they believe unless they hear???
He offended many:
Matthew 13:56-58 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Sometimes the things we are led to say might offend others are we willing to say them anyway???
He went where others have not gone before to help his disciples:
Matthew 14:22-25 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side… But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves… And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Sometimes God asked us to be the first to step out and go somewhere or do something no one has done before, do we step out or do we stay in the comfort zone???
He took time to be alone to pray:
Matthew 14:23 … he went up into a mountain apart to pray…he was there alone.
He was willing to give up his life, are you:
Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
He told his friend the truth:
Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Sometimes we hold back because someone is our friend and we don’t want to rock the boat. This does not mean we are to play God in their life. But if we are led by the Spirit to say something to a friend do we avoid it???
There are so many other things that could be shared in this teaching, but the point is don’t sing a song or say a phrase without really meaning it. Or don’t be a surface person, on the surface you say, “I want to be just like Jesus”, but in your heart and actions you really don’t…
The bible says to examine yourself:
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you…
Jesus said not my will, but thine…
Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
We are to be a bond slave, a servant, one whose will is swallowed up in the will of the master. Sometimes we miss out on blessings because we won’t let Him have His will in our lives. You won’t go where He wants you to go, because you have other ideas. You won’t travel or say or do what He wants you to do because you have other ideas or thoughts. That is not the heart of a servant. We need more servants in the church. So many want to be a “Minister”, “Pastor”, “In charge”, but are not willing to just do what God wants them to do. Not all can be in the same office. Who will be like Stephen and serve tables? Read Acts 6, this allowed others to give themselves to prayer and ministry of the word…And the word of God increased because of it.
Only Faith in the finish work of Christ can produce what it takes to be like Jesus. We can not do it on our own, but we can look at our motives, actions, ideas, thoughts, etc… to see if we are in the faith.
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