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Just Like Jesus Colossians 3:8-17 -- As I grow older, the more I see resemblances of my dads nature and habits in myself (i.e. tackling things head on; nightly (CR) habits; footsteps; budgeting, etc.). I couldnt have realized that Im more like my dad when it comes to these things if (1) I hadnt known him and (2) I havent grown up (if I stayed as a baby, or even a little girl, I wouldnt know Im like my dad in terms of budgeting). The same goes in spiritual growth. We need to grow up, and we need to know the model our growth has to follow. 1. The goal of spiritual maturity is to be just like Jesus (Christ-likeness). You and I were made in the image of God (imago Dei). But the image was sullied when sin came. Gods purpose is to restore us back into the image He had in mind when He first created man. Thats why Jesus Christ came. He came to pay the price for our freedom and justify us before God. And the way He lived His life here on earth is to be our pattern for living. He is the perfect Man. He is the Real Man. He is whom we should aim to be like. I didnt try hard to be like my dad; it just came naturally because I had his DNA. In the same way, the first step to be #justlikeJesus comes from knowing that you already have His DNA (Gal.2:20). Then with that knowledge, acknowledge: act like it. As you yield to the Christ-life in you (via the Holy Spirit), the Christ-likeness should come naturally. So stop trying to be #justlikeJesus based solely on your own efforts because you will only get frustrated. Start yielding to the Holy Spirits leading (Gal. 5:16, 25) and be transformed.

Current FB craze: #makeuptransformation

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The Christian version to the #makeuptransformation:

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. Colossians 3:10 (NLT)

Panel 1: Put off old self and put on the new Panel 2: Learn / Know your Creator Panel 3: Be renewed Panel 4: Become #justlikeJesus

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Put on your new nature Jesus said in John 11:44 Take off the grave clothes Object lesson: dirty, filthy clothing Ask someone to wear it on top of their clean, fresh clothes. Col. 3:8 Cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language. When youve taken it off, dont wear it again anymore. Throw it away. Burn it. Forget about it. Just as youve outgrown your old baby/toddler/kids clothes and dont wear them anymore, dont wear your old self/nature any longer. You are a new creation now. Start wearing clothes appropriate to your new stature. God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus

Learn to know your Creator 1 Peter 2:2 Crave pure spiritual milk which is the Word of God The best way to get to know God is through His Word. Read it, get to know what God is like. Learn from Jesus, how he lived while he was here on earth. *The more we learn about God, the more we see His love, goodness and faithfulness to us. The more we realize how much He loves us. That love is a powerful, transforming kind of love!

Be renewed As you spend time learning about your Creator through reading, studying and meditating on Gods Word, allow God to show you the areas in your life that needs correcting, improving. Dont fight it. Instead, act on Gods prompting, obey and apply what He teaches you and then you will be transformed into His likeness. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18

Become like Him #justlikeJesus What was Jesus like?

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Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

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Jesus was: Compassionate Mark 1:41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing, he said. Be clean! Jesus touched the leprous man. He didnt have to. The sickness went away with His command. But Jesus touched Him anyway. His touch was a salve to the lonely heart of the man who, for a long time, was one of the untouchables (unclean). KJV bowels of mercies (bowels Gk: splagchnon regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion) Touch Therapy: caregivers, doctors; Christians we are Christs hands here on earth today. Someone may be in desperate need of a touch of God.

Kind, Humble, Forgiving John 13:1-5 Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Jesus, the Creator of the universe, God, King of kings, humbled himself and served his disciples. He did not think of His position. He served everyone of them, showing them His love, even if some of them were going to betray Him. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Philippians 2:3-8 Has someone been unkind to you? Be kind. Has someone hurt you? Forgive. Are you in a position of authority? How can you serve and minister to those who are under your care? John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

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Long-Suffering (Patient), Forbearing, Meek/Gentle Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Amidst the wrong accusations, the shame and humiliation, the degrading treatment, the pain and suffering, the Lord Jesus took it all upon Himself. They struck Him with their best blow, still, Jesus did not waver in His obedience to the Fathers will. Not one curse word escaped His lips; nary a vile, murderous thought entered His mind. Instead, He patiently endured everything until His very last breath. In this world, you will have trouble, Jesus said in John 16:33, but take heart! I have overcome the world. Stop complaining; praise God! Stop whining; sing to God! If you are suffering for the sake of the Gospel, rejoice that you have been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name of Jesus (Acts 5:41)! Endure hardships like a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3). The sufferings we have now is not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom.8:18, 1 Pet. 4:13) but we have to stand firm (1 Cor.16:13) and stand our ground (Eph. 6:10-18)

Loving (FLSB Notes on 1 Cor.11:1) Jesus demonstrated love by:

1. Rebuking sin Mt.16:23, Mk. 9:19; Mk. 10:13-14

2. Expressing anger at those who were cruel, heartless, insensitive to the suffering and needs of others Mk.3:5

3. Warning us of hell Luke 12:5; Mt. 5:29-30

4. Offering Himself as a sacrifice John 13:1, 10:11, 17-18; Mt. 26:38

When the people in our lives are straying away from God / in error of ways / in danger of falling into false teachings, temptations, traps, etc., do we speak the truth in love (Eph.4:15) or do we keep quiet? Do we speak up for the oppressed, help the weak and poor and needy, address and minister to the needs of the suffering? Are we going out and preaching the good news of love, hope and forgiveness in Jesus Christ no matter what people will say or think about us? Are we offering ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God by serving Him and others?

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Conclusion: To live out our lives here on earth #justlikeJesus did, we need to partner with / yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Remember, Jesus was fully human when He was here on earth. He was able to do all that He did by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit led by the Spirit. Luke 4:1

That same Spirit that was residing in Him is the same Holy Spirit that has been shed abroad in our hearts.

God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has

been given to us. Romans 5:5 So we can live and love #justlikeJesus as we walk and live by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.