Are You More Like Jesus Today?

“and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4.23-24‬

Years ago while reflecting on goals and milestones in my spiritual walk, I settled on this thought that in effect became THE goal, and the standard for my life: Do I look more like Jesus today than I did yesterday?

And if the answer was ‘yes,’ then today was a successful day. And if the answer was ‘no,’ then well, He’s given me the grace to try again and keep going. It doesn’t matter how bad or how many times we’ve messed up. If I look more like Jesus today than yesterday, then that’s a win and I’ve moved closer to Him.

This idea of looking more like Jesus every day captivated me [and still does]. Because the more I looked like Jesus, the more I would love like Jesus and love the things He loves the more, and hate the things He hates the more. Being more like Jesus today than yesterday, in any measure, whether an inch or a mile, is a step forward.

The more we look like Jesus, the more we’ll move and operate like Him. And so will follow our fruit. Our fruit (work, action, behavior, results, relationships, and impact) will look more like Him too. Paul in the Book of Ephesians talks about how we should be continually renewing our minds. “Continually” as in every day and throughout the day.

Continually is not just when we get saved or around Christmas or Resurrection Sunday each year, but to renew our minds daily. He implores us to put on our “new self” — fashioned in God’s image. This means that we make choices every day and throughout the day that either feed or starve the heart [and ways] of God in our lives.

We grow in humility and Godlikeness by allowing Jesus to filter and transform our thoughts, hearts, attitudes, and behavior that follows. In renewing our minds daily, God must become our worldview, the lens through which we see the world, our light and our guide to navigating the world.

The only way to get more of God in our lives is to spend time with Him.

It is a law of relationships that we become more like the people that we spend the most time with. Or as the old saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together.”

When we spend time with God, observing His ways through His Word, teachings, and promptings by the Holy Spirit, we become more like Him. When we respond in obedience, we become more like Him because obedience is the engine of transformation.

When Paul tells us to live and renew in “righteousness and holiness of the truth,” the understanding there is to live in a way that expresses to God our gratitude for our salvation (His sacrifice for us).

In other words, I don’t just thank God for all that He’s done for me. My lifestyle should be one of thanks and gratitude in honor to Him. And there’s nothing that He loves more than us moving closer to Him, and striving to be more like Him, our Father, each and every day.

Imagine the child that imitates or aspires to be like their parent or favorite relative. Or the student that aspires to embody the teachings and character of their teacher, mentor, or coach. It’s a feeling that warms your heart unlike any other.

So, it’s simple. Today and every day’s goal is to just be more like Jesus. ??‍♂️ If there’s one thing that world needs most from us right now in these 2020 times, it’s to be more like Jesus.

Do you look more like Jesus today than yesterday?

Image by Jonathan McReynolds