Living Like Jesus: What Does It Mean?
Every Christian must be aware that his life is one that is in service to his namesake. Being called a Christian is a special thing and it requires our service to Christ. And, being a Christian means that we are to identify ourselves with Christ and do all we can to be like Him. Living like Jesus, however, is easier said than done. Living like the Savior requires our dedication and focus in so many areas. Considering these three things will help us in our daily efforts to live more like Him.
Living like Jesus means that we must work to not sin. Of course, we won't succeed in fully eradicating sin in our lives. Jesus is the only One who was able to live on earth and be without sin. Yet, considering His obedience to God in spite of tough temptations should be a great encouragement to each of us. In Matthew 4, Satan tempted the Son of Man in the wilderness in three distinct ways. On each of those occasions, Jesus responded to the devil by quoting from scripture and stressing the importance of never giving up on doing right. The prophet Isaiah predicted this perfection for the coming Messiah, and indeed he was right (Isaiah 53:9). As we strive to live like Jesus, let us do all we can to avoid sin and be more pleasing to our God.
Living like Jesus means that our attitudes must change. Worldly attitudes are selfish and consumed with "getting even." Such cannot and must not be the case for Christians. Christ taught us to "love our enemies" and rather than doing harm to those who harm us, "pray for those who... persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Doing this is not an easy thing at all, especially when our friends in the world try to convince us how "normal" and "okay" it is to have bad attitudes towards people who are mean. To live like Jesus, however, requires a different attitude and each day we live must be a day in which we consider those necessary attitude adjustments.
Finally, living like Jesus means we need to be prayerful people. If there was ever a man who knew how important prayer was, it was Jesus Christ. Throughout His life, He sought opportunity each day to speak to His Father. When He considered His followers, He pleaded with God for us (John 17). And, in the closing hours of His life as He anticipated the horrific events about to unfold, He prayed with incredible passion in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:35-36).
If we consider His sin-free life, His attitude toward others, and His continual dependence on prayer, we can live more like our Savior and be more pleasing in His service.