be LIKE Jesus
“Spiritual formation is the slowest of all human movements.”
The people you are WITH are the people you will be LIKE. It is a wisdom that is as old as King David.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on His law they meditate day and night.
This person is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
When we spend time WITH Jesus, we will recognize some parts of ourselves that need to be put off, and other parts of Jesus that we can put on.
Ephesians 4:22-24 calls us to “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
“Putting off” involves the practice of confession and repentance. As you are WITH Jesus, He will prompt you with gentleness and patience. Your part is to surrender to His promptings.
“Putting on” is what will make you more like Jesus. But what do we put on? The greatest attribute of Jesus is his love. But to love as Jesus loved is not easy.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Loving as Jesus loved requires us to be filled with the same Spirit of love that was evident in Jesus.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love . . .”
