What are you like?
That’s not something you’d have to ask Jesus for long. The way He lived, the nature of His character, was an insight into what the Father is like. To the degree that Jesus could confidently say that when you look at Him, you can see the Father. It really is like Father like Son.
The desire from there was that all those who believe in the Father through the Son would likewise become more and more like Him. This becoming was, at heart, about the character of the children of God emerging as they stood focused on God.
What matters to Jesus is that those who are born of the Spirit have the character of Christ – Humble, Obedient, Submissive and Trusting. Being humble, as understood and seen in Jesus Christ, is the foundation of everything else. Obedience ensures perfect alignment with God's will. Being submissive sees the inclination to yield and abide in the leading of the Father for His glory. Trusting means developing unwavering confidence in the Father and in Him alone in all circumstances.
Spending quality time considering and meditating on these characteristics in the hope that the Spirit of God will see the application of life to something of eternal value to display to the world how God’s rule is first seen through who we are, even before what we do. It will also highlight some of the key threats to becoming what God wants us to be, as we become aware of what led us astray from God and what continues to draw people away from the true to counterfeit qualities.
God positions us strategically in places and situations where His character can be established and deepened. Often, to ask to be more like Jesus is an invitation to endure and learn from challenging situations. This is why much of what cultivates character exposes us to ourselves, so that we can put it on the cross and look to the Spirit of God to change us from the inside out.
We’ll begin our exploration into considering the humble character of Jesus …
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Next Steps
Reflect: Make a list of the characteristics of Christ that you can recall from the gospel accounts.
Pray: Lord Jesus, we are grateful that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that you are Lord to the glory of the Father. We pray that, as we consider your character to gain further insight into what led to your being so highly exalted, we will be changed to be more like you. Grant us the patience and grace to submit to the process that enables this to take place. For your glory, Lord.
Act: From your list of the characteristics of Christ, select five of them and consider who in your life exhibits those characteristics well. Share your insights with a trusted somebody and pray that you will learn from example and be an example.
