More Like Jesus

Jesus Christ lived the only perfect life. Though scorned by His enemies and critics and sometimes even abandoned by His followers, Jesus remained true to His Father’s will. The following declaration from Jesus to His Father, just before going to the cross, verifies these statements, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given me to do” (John 17:4).

A gospel song contains these words in the first stanza:

I want to be more like Jesus, and follow Him day by day;

I want to be true and faithful, And every command obey.

As we study the record of our Lord’s life in the gospel accounts, we learn how to approach our lives and live day by day. Observing His faithfulness to His Father’s will, even in the midst of temptations and struggles, should strengthen our resolve to be true and faithful to Him. When we have a proper attitude toward the Lord and His will, our obedience will naturally follow. Indeed, true obedience always flows from a heart of love. As the Bible affirms, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (I John 5:3).

Following Jesus is always described as a strong commitment. For example, Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). The intention behind this statement was not to discourage people from following Him, but Jesus wanted people to be sure they understood what was involved. Jesus also said, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven” (Matthew 7:21). This statement from Jesus is a reminder that our obedience to Jesus is more than a one-time action. The obedience the Lord demands of those who follow Him is obedience to Him for as long as we live.

The refrain of this gospel song heralds a message of dedication to the Lord, who gave His life for us:

More and more like Jesus, I would ever be;

More and more like Jesus, My Savior who died for me.

The example of Jesus presents us with a perfect pattern to follow. May our dedication to following Him grow stronger with each passing day so that we will truly be more like Jesus.

Why Religious Division And Confusion Exists

While division is usually viewed as a negative characteristic, in religion it is deemed by many people to be acceptable. We find different religious bodies wearing various names, engaging in different practices, and preaching varying messages. The idea that each denominational group is a part of the church as a whole is embraced. Also, the idea that each denominational body is a road we can choose to reach heaven has an appeal.

The New Testament emphasizes the importance and need for unity. The apostle Paul declared, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Corinthians 1:10) The unity that is described here is not an agreement or willingness to “agree to disagree” on matters considered nonessential, while embracing a set of core beliefs. Consider also the prayer for unity, that Jesus prayed just before going to the cross, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20 & 21).

Unity in religion cannot be a reality when doctrinal statements of men, the positions of religious bodies, church manuals, and tradition are viewed as holding any kind of authority. We must agree that we are only going to follow the Scriptures. In the first century, when some Christians were turning away from the message that had been delivered to them by an apostle, they were exhorted by this apostle, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).

Respecting the authority of the Scriptures will not produce various religious groups and practices. The apostle Paul stressed, “And what ever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). The phrase, “in the name of the Lord,” literally means “by His authority.” Every belief and practice must be authorized if it is to have the Lord’s blessing. An application of this principle is the reason that instrumental music in worship is sinful. Simply put, there is no authority for instrumental music. We are only authorized to sing. If we fail to respect the authority of the Scriptures, we are going beyond the will of the Lord. The apostle John warned, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (II John 9).. Properly understood, in light of the context of the New Testament, the “doctrine of Christ” is referring to the entirety of the New Testament. We must strictly stay with the perfect pattern of the Scriptures. The New Testament is God’s final revelation for mankind. As Jude described the New Testament, it is “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

The teachings of men have produced false formulas for religious unity. Faithfully contending for the Lord’s standard of unity is not “horribly divisive,” as one person recently suggested. May God help us to teach with greater zeal the Lord’s plan for unity.

Desiring God

The Psalmist uses many descriptions to describe his longing for God. One of the most beautiful and picturesque descriptions is found in Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God." Imagine a deer that has been in the woods for several hours. As is the case with humans, the moment comes when the craving for something to drink begins. Thus the deer begins an earnest search for a cold stream where refreshment will be found. The idea set forth here is that the psalmist has an intense and insatiable desire that can only be satisfied by God.

The lesson from Psalm 42 is for us to go deeper in our relationship with our Father in heaven. Do not be satisfied with a superficial relationship. Perhaps the beginning point is to realize our personal dependence on God. As we sing in one sacred song concerning our God, “I Need Thee Every Hour.” From this attitude, develop an intense longing and desire for knowing and following the Father’s will, as revealed in the Scriptures, in every area of your life. Also, spend regular time in prayer to the Father. As the Hebrews writer reminds Christians, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

As His children, please remember the Father longs for us to live closely to Him. As the Psalmist exhorts concerning our heavenly Father, “Glory in His Holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore” (Psalm 105:3 & 4).