Why Is It Hard To Be Like Jesus?

 

Why Is It Hard To Be Like Jesus?

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29)

I remember this chorus to the old hymn "Be Like Jesus", 
"Be like Jesus this my song, in the home, and in the throng, 
Be like Jesus, all day long, I would be like Jesus." 

I will boldly say, this is easier, said, than done. Why is that, you may ask? Could it be that we desire to be our own person, saying and doing the things we want to. Living our lives, the way we want to, allowing our lifestyle, and character to be swayed and molded by the world?

In our text the apostle Paul told the Christians at Rome, that from the beginning, God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son.

In other words, God foreknew and predestined people to be conformed to the image of Jesus. This means that God chose and loved them, and determined that they would be like Jesus in the future. 

Jesus came into the world to show us the character of our heavenly Father. "Show us the Father” is a phrase from the Bible, in John 14:8. In this passage, Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus responds that seeing him is the same as seeing the Father. 

And Paul said "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you."    
(1 Corinthians 11:1-2). 

In essence, it is God's will that we strive to be like Jesus. So how can we do this?  We can emulate these qualities of Jesus in our lives.

Love and Compassion (Mark 6:34)

Humility (Philippians 2:6-8)

Forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15)

Faith and Prayer (Matthew 8:23-27)

Integrity (Luke 16:10)

Selflessness (John 15:13)

Teaching and Sharing (Matthew 4:23)

These are just a few qualities of Jesus that we are to emulate. But I like what the Apostle Paul said concerning what is needed for us to do first and foremost, if we are to be like Jesus. This may be very difficult to do, but at the same time, very necessary. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) 

If we put to death to our "self" and allow Christ to live in us, we will no doubt in time, be like Jesus, in everything we say, and do! GP