Becoming More Like Jesus This Christmas

 “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” – Romans 15:5-7

What if this Christmas brought us closer to the very heart of Jesus, and to help us have a more intimate knowledge of how His grace and love flow through us? What if during this Christmas season our hearts took the day off, and our life was governed by the heart of Christ? What if this season, His priorities govern our actions and drive our decisions and His love directs our behavior?

That scenario is what God wants. God wants you to be just like Jesus. “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:23-24). Every honest Christian knows the need for change. But how to get there? How do you move forward from struggles both big and small to become more like Him?   

The Bible teaches us that the goal of the Christian life is to become like Jesus. If you want to be a person that God can use, a person who is becoming more like Jesus, then it will take time. It is going to take time spent with God. It is going to take days and weeks and months of journeying with other Christ-followers. It is going to take time to participate in God’s mission, pray for God’s heart, and obey God’s word. It takes time, but with time comes progress.

God’s desire is for you to think like Jesus so you can act like Jesus and ultimately have the heart of Jesus so you can be more like Jesus. As a Christian, we should yearn to not only know more about the Bible but to become more Christ-like to our family, friends, and people we meet. We want to see Jesus in us.  

So what needs to change in your life? God has put you on earth for a purpose, but have you discovered it yet? William Barkley said, “There are two great days in a person’s life, the day we are born and the day we discover why.”

If you are a Christian you know why and how. The question is are you open to change and transformation? We all have obstacles in life; they can be stepping stones to new heights or they can seem impossible to climb. The good news is, you can change. Jesus is in the business of changing lives.  We have heard the stories of people whose lives have been radically changed by Jesus. Their stories are about normal people, from normal backgrounds, who have decided to serve an extraordinary Jesus and developed a heart like His.  

My prayer is that you will challenge yourself in 2022 to be committed to becoming more like Jesus.  

Discussion Question:

1. Who do your actions say you belong to?
2. How do I judge my progress at becoming more Christ like?
3. Pray and ask God to help you in becoming more like Him.