“To live like Jesus requires a funeral of trust in self followed by a resurrection of faith in Jesus.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 6, 2024
And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
To imitate Jesus Christ is a beautiful and bold way to compliment Christ. After all, you want to be like the One who loves you the most and the One you love and respect the most. The first-century disciples of Christ, fresh from being filled with the Holy Spirit, powerfully displayed the life of Christ. Boldness, holiness, and hospitality were the fruit of their faithful love of God. Bold because they had been with Jesus, they now truly believed in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Jesus did what He said He would do. He lived for His Father’s will, which was to love and serve. He died for His Father’s will, which was to save all who confess their sins and believe in Him. And He came back to life for His Father’s will, which was to fill His followers with the Holy Spirit to love the lost, to love and follow Jesus Christ. To be like Jesus is to live like Jesus.
You know God is getting the glory in your life when others see Jesus in your life. Though your tendency could be to be introverted at heart, you are not shy about sharing your story of how you were once blinded by your pride, but now you can see and experience an authentic life of love because of the gentle and humble life of Christ that lives through you. Holiness in your life exhibits itself by the fruit of the Spirit, so the compassion and care of Jesus is how your life leads you to love others. Not holier-than-thou but an attitude of being a saved sinner yourself; you are just trying to help another beggar find the Bread of Life. And your home, which was once a fortress of privacy, is now a public place for hurting hearts to be healed. As Henri Nouwen exhorts, “Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people but to offer them space where change can take place.” Generous boldness, holiness, and hospitality exhibit Jesus!
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
To live like Jesus first requires a funeral of trust in self followed by a resurrection of faith to follow and be like Jesus. The process of putting to death the old way of living and embracing new life in Christ involves a lifelong transformation rooted in spiritual disciplines. Foremost is the importance of repentance and self-examination. With honest introspection, acknowledge and turn away from your former ways of thinking and doing while renewing your mind on Christ’s righteous ways. Ongoing confession and repentance keep old ways at bay and new ways alive.
The sacraments, particularly baptism and communion, are transformative rites symbolizing death to the old self and resurrection in Christ. Through baptism, you participate in Christ’s death and resurrection, publicly declaring a burial of the old self and rising to new life. Communion celebrates the remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and continually nourishes spiritual rebirth. Sacraments launch a disciplined life of prayer, fasting, and contemplation. The life-changing power of meditating on Scripture by aligning your life with Christ, fasting from worldly distractions, and meditating on God’s Word cultivate an environment conducive to the death of old habits and the resurrection of a Christ-centered life. You are capable of living like Jesus once you have died like Jesus—then others will marvel that you have been with Jesus!
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me hold a daily funeral to self-reliance and celebrate my resurrected life in Jesus through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Consider new ways to express your boldness, holiness, and hospitality so others can see Christ’s life being lived out through your life.
Related Reading
Romans 8:29; Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6
Spurgeon – Morning and Evening
Worship Resource
Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson, feat Michaela Gentile: Let My Life Be Worship
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