Just Like Jesus

It has been said that we are most like the people we spend time with. If you look around, I know you will find this is true. Spouses often reflect each other more than anyone; children, too, can tend to reflect their parents more than any other person. This idea is interesting, true, and scary all at the same time! We inevitably become like those we surround ourselves with. It's no wonder parents love it when their kids have "good" friends who set a good example.

As your mind and my mind are on that (take a minute more and linger on it if you need to), I'd like to turn to the person of Jesus. Hypocrisy is a humongous problem in churches, and it's no surprise when you think about it. Yes, I believe that there are many churches out there not preaching the truth of the gospel (salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ), and thus those who falsely coming in the name of Jesus only bring confusion to the cross. For those who are genuine believers, the question arises as to who they are spending their time with. What are they listening to throughout their day, either by circumstance or willful decision? What fills their mind throughout the day, and how much do they really seek God? Let's make that more personal--how much do YOU really seek God?

I'd like you to try an experiment in your life (though I'm being a bit facetious here) with the person to whom you're closest. For the next two weeks, talk to them for the time that you usually talk to God each day. Talk to them at the depth of conversation that you talk to God, too. (i.e. just ask them for things to make your life easier if you're like most people). Listen to them for as much time as you listen to God each day, and have someone else talk to you on behalf of them for the times you sit listening to someone preach versus the time you spend alone with God. Make sure, too, that for the times you differentiate between hearing and listening, too--we're quite good at hearing God, not so great at listening intently to Him. For the rest of the time, do not be near them at all. Stay away from them and just make it a goal to absolutely avoid them for those periods of time. Think about other things and invest your time elsewhere. Finally, see how this affects the quality of your relationship. See how much your way of relating changes and how much you remain like them. See how much they become a stranger to you and how much insight you lose into their personal perspective. In many ways, you'll find your answer as to why you or I or many other believers simply don't seem that much like God or find it incredibly difficult to maintain feelings of closeness to Him.

To be like God, you must be near to Him. You must stick close to Jesus by spending meaningful time with Jesus in no lesser place than His word! You must seek the Holy Spirit to lead in your steps throughout the day through continual prayer. You must long for God and find adequate time daily to listen to Him and to talk to Him. You must praise Him, you must imitate Him, you must seek His power to do what He'll reveal for you to do as You seek His guidance in each moment-by-moment activity. I think it's then that you will finally begin to understand what "abundant life" means. You cannot and will not reflect God or know His heart well without spending deep quality time with Him on a daily basis.

13 'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jer 29:13 NAS)

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. (Psa 145:18 NAS)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
(Gal 5:22-25 NAS)

4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
(Joh 15:4-5 NAS)

13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.
15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.
(Joh 16:13-15 NAS)