Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1 John 3:2       

Sometimes I don’t want to be honest with myself! If I’m not being honest, I can paint a lovely picture of my heart attitude for myself, one that is as pure as the driven snow. Of course, Holy Spirit doesn’t let that picture hang on my wall for long before He reveals truth.

It happened again this morning as I was pondering a devotion that our church is using this month. It said, “The goal of every believer is the same: to become more like Jesus Christ.” I thought about that sentence and immediately prayed, “Lord, make me more like You.” No sooner had I prayed those words than I realized what that would actually mean, and I flinched!

Let me explain. I know that Jesus is perfect. He’s holy. He put His Father’s will above His own, and it cost His life. Jesus never disobeyed God. He never once took a path contrary to what God had revealed in scripture. In other words, Jesus was humble! I like to think that I want to be like Jesus, but do I really?

To be like Jesus means that my own selfishness has to always, always, always be disempowered. The fear of man, that can so easily keep me from doing or saying what I know to be what God wants, can’t be allowed to rule my days. Pride that swells in my mind with affirmations of “I know best” has to be dismissed. Words that aren’t motivated 100% by Christ’s love can no longer be spoken, even when I’m rightfully upset. Jesus’ life attracted followers, but it also lost some, and even meant He had enemies. Do I really want to be like Jesus?

The devotion used the scripture Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This verse brings me reassurance that it’s God who began the work, and it’s Him who will keep working, and it’s Him who will complete the work when I see Him face to face. God does the work. All He requires is my cooperation. Becoming like Jesus is a work in progress, and like 1 John 3:2 says, when that day comes, the last of my willfulness, pride, selfishness, etc. will fall away as I gaze on Jesus. He is pure and Holy. He is LORD! He is the God of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.  

Lord, I know that You are my Shepherd, but so often I make choices as if I have no shepherd, as though I need to look out for myself. I think praying “Make me more like You” caused me to flinch because in that moment it felt like that would often mean some very uncomfortable moments each time I wrestled with choosing You over me. My heart says that I want Your scripture to be the only light on my path (Psalm 119:105), yet still there are times when I choose a different course. Lord, give me a deeper revelation of You, because that is the only path to becoming like You. I think that somehow making me more like You includes making me want to be more like You, and for that Lord, I am ready! I’m so grateful that in spite of my willfulness, You’ve promised to carry on with the good work You’ve begun in my heart. Don’t stop until I really am a reflection of Your love in my world! I love You Lord. Amen.