A Reflection On Becoming Like Jesus

When I need to follow Jesus’ example of obedience

Being like Jesus means more than healing and helping, preaching and teaching, feeding and clothing, and blessing at every turn. It also means obedience—deep, sacrificial, heartfelt obedience. The kind of obedience that requires ultimate humility, compelling us to subdue every dream that doesn’t fit God’s purposes. After all, the mind of Jesus led Him not to glory first, but to death.

God will not take us down easy paths to conform us to Jesus. He does not lead us on a walk in the park, but toward a struggle in the garden of Gethsemane, where strong wills are surrendered, and the glory of God and the welfare of others compete with our own personal plans. And we know, when we get there, that He will lead us into death.

It’s a painful death, but a glorious one. The other side of it is resurrection, which God has planned all along. Our ultimate, humble obedience will lead to high exaltation. Why? Because a lowly-then-exalted Jesus has called us. The very mind of the Resurrection has become our guide.

When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:7-8