On Becoming Like Jesus – Page 2 – Pressing On In His Footsteps

On True Worship

John 4:23-24. MSG. “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”

Habakkuk 3:16-19 NLT. ¹⁶I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. ¹⁷Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, ¹⁸yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! ¹⁹The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Observation

Merriam Webster defines worship as (1) reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; (2) an act of expressing reverence; and (3) to adore, idolize, esteem worthy, give homage. The worship Jesus and Habakkuk describe in these verses surpasses the mere visible act of showing reverence by raising hands or singing or even serving others. These verses elevate worship to an attitude of the very heart rooted in faith, trusting in God’s wisdom, His goodness, and His plan, unshaken by circumstances, undaunted by whatever enemies or authorities arise to exert power over or control us.

This worship is one that can “count it all joy” and find God sufficient in all circumstances.
This worship does not hinge on how blessed we feel or appear, or the godliness or godlessness of the authorities which rule over us, or our physical comfort and well-being or whether we like the way the church looks, the style of music during the service or what else the church provides.
This worship permeates our lives, flows from within rooted in a deep and abiding gratitude, love, hope and trust, and brings us to a place where we can submit completely to being an instrument in the hand of God to fulfill His will and purpose regardless of the cost to ourselves (Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me. Yet not My will, but Your will, be done. – Luke 22:42).

If we truly want to be like Jesus, this worship is what we must seek to embrace, allowing it to flow outward from spirit through soul to be evidenced in our lives 24/7/365.

Impact on Me

In 2000, we were in a church that was transitioning from a long-time pastor to a very young new one. We were on the leadership team and many of our members were honestly burnt out, tired, and discouraged. The new pastor chose to find long distance advice and support which encouraged him to reject the current leadership team and go it on his own. This caused a great deal of upheaval, confusion and hurt for all of us who were highly invested in that fellowship. As John and I prayed, the Holy Spirit was firm in insisting we stay in that fellowship without complaining UNTIL we were healed of our offense and able to honestly bless and encourage the new ministry.

During our healing process (we found out that this is really God’s prescribed treatment) we were to pray for the pastor and congregation and ourselves to grow in godliness, continue to bless, edify, and encourage the pastor and others until we came to a place of love, grace, mercy, compassion where we could truly bless the new pastor as we left. May I say that this was not the answer we wanted to hear or the plan we would have chosen on our own!!! However, the Holy Spirit taught me so much in those months about true worship.

I learned that true worship will not be impacted by my circumstances, feelings, surroundings, or outside influences because true worship is between God and me alone; the depth, quality, authenticity, and truth of my worship hinges on my relationship with my Savior, my submission to Him as Lord, and my desire, commitment, and faithfulness to glorify Him in all I do. This requires that I offer up my pride, my plans or need to have my own way, as a sacrifice, trusting in God’s plan, provision, or prescription instead of my own – REGARDLESS of what the cost is to me. The book of Habakkuk is his journey from doubt to this kind of worsip, this unshakeable faith and hope.

I can only speak for myself, but I find that my pride always dies kicking and screaming, telling me that the price is too high or that I will have to give up too much. I hear the voice saying I deserve to be offended at being treated unfairly or being disrespected. I hear that I have a right to hold a grudge or work revenge against one who has wronged me. It is my choice whether I embrace God’s plan or my own. However, when I choose His, as I go through the process and stand over another dead piece of my pride, I find that I feel lighter, cleaner, freer, more peaceful, more hopeful, more grateful, more joyful, more secure in Christ. After 5 months, we were able to ask the pastor to release us without any rancor in our souls and move on. While I really don’t desire to walk that path again, I treasure the lessons learned, the depths of relationship gained.

Prayer

Lord, may I learn to rejoice in You always regardless of my current circumstances, regardless of what the future seems to hold, regardless of those who rule over me, regardless of how I feel or the results I want. When I am tempted to listen to the voice of my pride and my selfish desires, remind me of Your prayer in the garden as You faced the horror of the Cross for my sake and the sake of all mankind. Give me the courage, wisdom, strength and grace to worship You 24/7/365 so You may be glorified in all I do. I pray that others may come to know You because they meet You in me. I pray this all in the name of Jesus. Make it so.

On Who Would Have Thought

Isaiah 53:1-12 MSG Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?

2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field.  There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look.  He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.  One look at him and people turned away.  We looked down on him, thought he was scum.  
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.  We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures.  But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!  He took the punishment, and that made us whole.  Through his bruises we get healed.  
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.  We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.  And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him.

^7-9He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off—and did anyone really know what was happening?

He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true.

¹⁰Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.

^11-12Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many “righteous ones,” as he himself carries the burden of their sins. Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly—the best of everything, the highest honors—Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

Observation

“Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?…it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed…He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people…Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true. Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.”

The popular image of Messiah in Jesus’ time was a warrior king who would set His people free from the oppression of Roman rule. This chapter was obviously ignored and/or misunderstood. How often do we do the same thing? We look for scripture passages that reinforce our fix for the circumstances we deem need to be changed, telling God how we think He should move in a situation, and ignore the ones we don’t understand, don’t fit our plan or might be taxing emotionally or physically. I am sure the followers of Jesus would not have understood or agreed with the Savior-On-A-Cross plan as a way to salvation and deliverance. Because their insight, like ours, is limited (temporal, short-sighted by eternal standards), they (and we) often forget that God has an eternal perspective and a plan that is not shaken or adjusted or challenged by circumstances or what people might think.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross was the pivot point of history. How difficult it must have been for His disciples to be faced with the enigma of a crucified Savior, something so incongruous, so mutually exclusive. Yet, this was and continues to be God’s one and only plan carried out to perfection.

Impact on Me

Good Friday, the day we commemorate the sacrifice in this chapter of Isaiah, is such a holy day for me. I am so grateful, forever grateful, that God made a way to restore the relationship He established in the Garden of Eden through paying a price none of us could pay. I am overwhelmed by the love, the undeserved grace and mercy available because of Jesus’ willingness to suffer and die for all those who embrace this sacrifice!

It is so astounding to me that God’s plan made Jesus the sacrifice – the innocent dying for the guilty. My mind cannot fathom the depth of that kind of mercy. Then, to add to the staggering nature of His grace, He adopts me as His child rather than holding me as His servant until I could pay the price of my freedom. All for free because Jesus took the redemption price on Him, on Him. Will I be asked to sacrifice, to change, to leave my sin habits behind, to walk by faith into unknown places with unknown consequences, YES, but I will also know that Jesus goes with me always.

I know that you cannot separate the Crucifixion from the Resurrection, the crucified from the risen Savior, because both are key to God’s plan to redeem, restore and reconcile humankind to Him. However, if you are looking for me, go to the Cross. I want to embrace the Cross in such a way that I become bloody so that when I hug someone else, they become bloody, too. I want them to be changed and redeemed, forever grateful as am I.

Prayer

Father God, You are so merciful, so wise, so loving, so gracious. How many times I have questioned Your ways, Your response in desperate and destructive situations, Your seeming slowness to respond! Forgive me for thinking that I can fix anyone or any situation without getting in sync with Your plan first. Help me to understand and surrender to Your will and Your purpose for me so that You can use me as an instrument of redemption. Thank You for the Cross and the Resurrection. May I always be grateful and respond in kind with Your mercy and love. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On Forgiving My Enemy

Matthew 5:43-48 MSG ^43-47“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. ⁴⁸“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

Luke 23:34 MSG Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.”

Observation

The Word of God was given to us not for what it would mean to us (trying to rationalize through human experience), but, rather, for what it would mean for us in revealing the Lord’s perspective. In other words, His words are not to be interpreted from my “humanly possible” perspective, but, rather, to give me insight into His “nothing is impossible” one. These passages are a perfect example of how God’s perspective challenges me to be less human and more supernatural – trusting in Him and allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to make me more like Jesus so I function as He intends in the Body of Christ.

So, returning love to those who hurt, attack, despise and use you (or someone you care for) seems impossible from a human standpoint. It is incredibly difficult to look past the face and actions of an enemy to see the chains that bind him or her. But Jesus did just that on the Cross. “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” Jesus said this about the man who drive the nails in His hands, the man who held the whip, Pontius Pilate, the religious leaders, those who yelled, “Crucify!” and all of us who were yet to come.

Loving our enemies does not mean submitting to physical abuse or enabling them to avoid the consequences of their actions. “When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.” Loving them requires us to forgive them and pray for their healing and deliverance – a nearly impossible feat without choosing to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s perspective in our most human moments and choosing in His strength to journey in that direction. The road may seem long, steep and treacherous, but it is worth the taking.

Impact on Me

I confess that there are people that I find hard to forgive because of the wounds they have created by word and deed. I have rationalized wishing harm on someone who hurt me (or others for whom I care dearly) and clothed it in my mind as justice. I am sure there are people that feel the same toward me. We are none of us without fault. But, if we want to be more like Jesus, then we need to see others through God’s perspective. “He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. “

So, I want to learn to look past the visible or invisible wound to me and attempt to see the soul, gaining compassion for those so wounded that they would choose to attack or harm another – verbally or physically. I want to be to others as Jesus has been to me – so gracious and generous when I did not deserve it. “Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” I have not yet arrived at this place, but I sincerely want to go there.

Prayer

Good, gracious, generous, loving God, how easily I forget the undeserved grace I received when I am wounded by another. How difficult it is for me to forgive those who make themselves my enemy and spitefully use me, but You say this forgiving, this grace and mercy, makes me more like Jesus, more effective in His Body, more beneficial to Your kingdom. So, I ask You to search me and find those ungracious and stingy thoughts, those wounds that need to be healed, so I may allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in me so I can fulfill Your will and purpose in my life. Make it so, in Jeus’ name.

On a Life of Substance & Purpose

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, 12-14 MSG Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.] There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? … ^12-14Call me “the Quester.” I’ve been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there’s not much to write home about. God hasn’t made it easy for us. I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke—smoke, and spitting into the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 NIV The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: ²“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” ³What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? … ¹²I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! ¹⁴I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Philippians 3:7-9 MSG The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

Observation

Ecclesiastes is believed to be the writing of King Solomon (“Questor” or “Teacher”) and represents his philosophical outlook on the world and on life in general toward the end of his life. He had everything the world could offer in abundance – worldwide renown and respect, wealth, wives, a palace or two, horses and chariots and so on. He was the wisest man of his time, but he had fallen into the very human trap of allowing his acclaim, pride in his accomplishments, material possessions and his wives to turn his heart away from remembering God’s part in it all. All that he possessed was suddenly purposeless and meaningless.

He starts Ecclesiastes by stating that all you can gain in this life by your own efforts is “hevel” (smoke, vanity, meaningless). It is like “Spitting into the wind” or chasing after the wind, which is defined as wasting time doing something totally pointless, fruitless or futile, without substance or value. For King Solomon, despite his riches and fame, the joy was gone from his heart and all that he possessed and did was hevel.

On the other hand, then we have Paul, a man who gave up everything – status, power, authority, recognition among his peers – to know and serve Jesus. “Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung.” Like Solomon, Paul recognized that all earthly accomplishments and acclaim are hevel, but, unlike Solomon, Paul was willing to trade it all in to fulfill God’s will and purpose in his life. “I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him.”

Impact on Me

So, now I face the uncomfortable question of which of these two do I most resemble? Am I, like Solomon, chasing after the wind, looking for the praise of my culture, doing what will increase my wealth, status, authority, power over others OR am I willing to be like Paul and submit all I am and have to fulfill God’s will and purpose? Is knowing and serving Jesus enough for me? Do I secretly crave the praise and adulation of people or am I willing to let the Holy Spirit be my promoter – setting me where I need to be doing what I need to do at the precise moment God needs me to be obedient regardless of the cost to my reputation, financial position, comfort, perceived abilities? Am I willing to appear a failure, if necessary, to accomplish God’s will and purpose?

Jesus was willing to do all these things. His obedience, His sacrifice, provided us with righteousness that cannot be gained on our own. “I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.” Do I trust God enough to give it all? Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!

Prayer

God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, All-Wise, All-Knowing, Gracious and Merciful Father, You know my heart. I am human, fallible, inconsistent, selfish, unfaithful, but the Holy Spirit lives within me and is working on changing me so I can be more like Jesus. I pray that You will give me insight, wisdom, knowledge, understanding and strength to believe in You when what You ask me to relinquish seems too hard to do, too much to give up. May I stand before You on that day and know that I lived a life of substance and purpose in Christ. May I remember that all I have is Yours and You are the rewarder of the faithful. I am safe and secure in Your hands. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On Setting Things Right

John 3:16-17 MSG “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

Luke 11:1-4 MSG One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” ^2-4So he said, “When you pray, say, Father, Reveal who you are. Set the world right. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.”

Observation

The last few years have made everyone recognize that things are not right with the world. This pandemic has disrupted whatever was considered normal on a worldwide basis. All that once seemed stable, secure and reliable are now not so much. These verses above bring us the only secure hope that withstands every challenge of the ages – knowing that God is in the process of putting the world right again. “Set the world right” is also translated as “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

The people of Jesus’ time understood living in an insecure world. Their history was a sad story of Gentile and homegrown kings and kingdoms that came and went – Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Babylon, Rome and a series of evil rulers from Judah and Israel itself. Even the religious leaders gave them no hope of fulfilling the intricate and burdensome rules for righteousness before God. If you were poor or sick, God hated you and was punishing you. Jesus says, “Not so!” “He came to help, to put the world right again.”

He is saying the same thing to us today. His kingdom is still the only truly safe place that cannot be breached or conquered by any enemy – man or devil. We can get confused and discouraged when we don’t experience that same promised stability, security and safety in our temporary physical lives. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world; He certainly did. The promise of stability, security and safety are eternal and sure in spite of the circumstances we encounter. Unlike other human kings, Jesus’ first concern is for our eternal welfare, not His personal gain. Setting our hearts in His kingdom will produce righteousness, peace and joy in the midst of what this world turns upside down.

Impact on Me

I have a choice of what kingdom I choose and which king I serve. The last couple of years have drawn a striking border between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God. In all of the confusion and conflict created by dueling authorities touting their information as correct, there is one source that has not wavered or been shaky. God’s plan is to set the world right using anyone who will seek His direction, listen and obey His calling, serve His eternal Kingdom goals rather than be distracted by the havoc caused by any earthly one.

I confess that I am impacted emotionally by wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, floods, political infighting, greed that disregards the lives of others and all the other things that seem to turn the world upside down. How can I be stable, secure and safe in the midst of the swirling chaos? I must choose who and what rules me. If I am first a subject of the Kingdom of God, I must have faith in and follow His plan, walk in my calling, set myself as a servant to fulfill His will and purpose. In this way, I will be assisting in setting the world right according to His plan, not mine. I will trust that my obedience to Him will contribute to His ultimate result, even if I don’t see that result with my own eyes. I will allow the Holy Spirit to give me insight into the eternal so my focus will not be distracted by the temporal. I will know that whatever I suffer here on earth is less than the sacrifice made by Jesus to come as a Man to redeem me and whosoever will come.

Prayer

Lord, I do pray for Your kingdom to come and Your will be done – beginning with me. Jesus, You said that Your Kingdom is within us when we are in You. I want to be remodeled by Your presence, working with me to become all that You desire me to be and do all that You desire me to do. Change me from someone rooted in the worldly and temporal to someone who is fruitful because I am rooted in Your eternal Kingdom soil. I want to be part of Your setting the world right regardless of the cost to me and whether I ever see the result of my obedience and sacrifice. May I willingly serve as You ask. In Jesus’ name, I pray.