To Be Like You
Sometimes it seems like I’m surrounded, everywhere I go, by anger and despair.
Some days life gets so dark and clouded; I don’t know what to do.
Confusion’s everywhere.
But Jesus I know you can understand my every sorrow and frustration.
You died for my salvation.
So, when I feel defeated, and it seems like I could drown in my negativity,
I lift my eyes to Heaven, and I praise you Lord and Savior,
For your patient love for me.
I pray for a spirit that is Christ-like and enduring,
Free from malice, scorn and strife.
That I may live a fruitful life.
I’m trying to be patient, Lord, but everything is hitting me all at once again.
There’s no one I can turn to, and I’ve grown so very weary.
I wish this trial would end.
But then I lift my head and know through suffering and trials, my life is purified,
And you are always by my side.
Your love is so much deeper, so much higher, wider, longer,
Than mine could ever be.
Your vision goes much further; you see through my tears and anger,
To your perfect will for me.
I pray Your Holy Spirit will descend upon my heart so laden down, so it can fly,
To you my Adonai.
I want to follow in your footsteps. I want to take the narrow path to life with you.
And, though the road must lead to Calvary, there’s nothing else my soul can do.
So, fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may keep my eyes fixed firmly on the goal.
Help me strive each day to be more like you. Lord,
work in me and make me whole.
Work in me and make me whole.
Matthew 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount
In this passage, Jesus spoke to a massive group of people who had come to hear him talk about what Christ-like living was. It was not a popular message with many of the religious leaders of the day, however. Jesus spoke of things like mercy, compassion, living for others, loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you. He taught humility and self-sacrifice rather than greed and pride. He taught that we are not to judge others, but to leave that to God.
Our job is to love others and show others through our words and actions that Jesus is worth it. In other words, he told them that if they would forget about the selfish and worthless entrapments of this world, and forget the slavery of our own human nature, and instead focus on demonstrating his love through their actions, they would not only find greater joy on this earth, but they would be greatly rewarded in eternity. This message provoked the religious leaders who were looking for a Messiah who would conquer their enemies and exalt them as religious leaders. This kind of teaching was a detriment to their social standing and way of life, and it incited them to look for a way to get rid of Jesus.
The path that Jesus spoke of is not an easy path to take, and it is certainly not a popular one. It seems to go against our very nature to love our enemies and to pray for those who seek to harm us. After all, don’t we need to protect ourselves? Are we called to be doormats? No. In fact, Jesus told his disciples this:
“’Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.’”
Matthew 10:16
Another word for “shrewd” is “wise”. We must use God’s wisdom in life, since we are dealing with a fallen world that is currently under the “rulership” of evil and darkness. In Luke 9:5, Jesus also told them this:
“‘And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.’”
Luke 9:5
He did not expect them to stay in a potentially abusive situation, but he did expect them to forgive and move on. They were not to let this rejection (which is really a rejection of God) interfere with their ministry. We are called to reflect God’s love to others, so that they too can come to know him.
But is it really fair to ask us to forgive those who we feel just don’t deserve it? To answer that question, first we need to look at what forgiveness is not.
- Waiting to be asked. In an ideal situation, the offender will go to the offended and ask for forgiveness, but sadly this isn’t always the situation. By forgiving someone, even someone who doesn’t feel they have wronged you, you are letting go of the burden that you carry and opening yourself up to the healing power that forgiveness brings.
- Forgetting. How many times have you heard the phrase, “Forgive and forget!”? In the Bible, God says that he will remember our sins no more. This is different from human forgiveness. As humans, it is very difficult for us to actually forget something, and it can actually hinder our ability to forgive. We should not hold a grudge, but instead we can focus on the positive that came from forgiving, and remember that God has completely forgiven us.
- Blindly resuming relationship. Just because someone says they are sorry doesn’t mean that they have “repented of” – or turned from – the harmful behavior. The person harmed needs to decide if or when they feel comfortable resuming the relationship, and even then, trust needs to be rebuilt.
Notice the last part of the Luke 9:5 verse where it says that they were to shake off the dust “to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate”. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the person who wronged you deserves forgiveness. It means that we are letting God be the judge, rather than ourselves, by giving the whole situation to him to handle. Not only does this give power to your ministry, but it frees you from the bondage of carrying grudges.
One final note on this topic. Living life “by the rules” will not (and I repeat – not) earn your salvation. Salvation is completely and totally a gift from God that is given only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Works cannot save you. A true relationship with Jesus Christ makes us want to live a life that is Christ-like and allows others to see Christ through us such that they, too, may come to know him.
“’You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’”
Matthew 5:14-16
Our actions as Christ-followers speak more than our words. We can sing all of the songs in church and say all of the right words, but if we treat people poorly and act selfishly the rest of the week, we look no different than the rest of the world, and our testimony will have no meaning. None of us wants to have to face our Savior, knowing that we may have actually led people away from the Kingdom through our actions.
Related Devotional
Resources
“How to Live Like Jesus” by Scott Stein How to Live Like Jesus
“Driven by Eternity” by John Bevere is a powerful book on living your life for Christ with an eye on the future and forever. You can find it here: Driven by Eternity
Music and lyrics by LuAnne Barnet. Copyright (c) 2004 LuAnne Barnet. All Rights Reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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