How To Be More Like Jesus

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as [Jesus] is, so are we in this world.”
(1 John 4:17 NKJV)

It has been said that “imitation is the highest form of flattery.” If that’s true, and I believe that it is, then imitating Jesus Christ is the highest achievement of a Christian’s life. If, in this world, we are to be as Jesus is, then we must know Him completely so that we can emulate Him in everything that we do.

To understand Jesus better, we must first understand the three basic characteristics that defined His relationship to His Father. These characteristics are what I call CIA principles. (C=Committed, I=Identified, A=Available) CIA principles are the essential qualities that should be evident in the life of every true disciple of Christ. What follows is the introduction to an in-depth discipleship study that I have titled “Advanced CIA Training.”

First: Jesus was committed to His Father.

His whole purpose for existing was to “do the will of Him who sent me” (John 4:34 NASB).

Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat. "No," he said, "I have food you don't know about." "Who brought it to him?" the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” (John 4:31-34 NLT)

To commit means to obligate or pledge oneself to a person or cause. Jesus was so committed to His Father that He literally was “nourished” by doing God’s will. He took seriously the fact that God is indeed our sole source of supply for every need, including the need for sustenance.

Second: Jesus identified with His Father.

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 NASB)

Jesus so completely identified with His Father that He never questioned His God-given power and authority. He knew that whatever God called Him to do, He also empowered and equipped Him to do.

“My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me. The Father and I are one." (John 10:27-30 NLT)

To identify with someone means to become the same as that person. Jesus identified with His Father by saying and doing only what God said and did.

“I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me gave me his own instructions as to what I should say.” (John 12:49 NLT)

Jesus replied, “I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”
(John 5:19 NLT)

We are called to be Christ’s imitators of Christ by imitating those who are most Christ-like. The Apostle Paul said it most succinctly.

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 11:1 NASB)

Many entertainers have been known for doing impressions of famous people. They study an individual thoroughly, listening to him speak, watching him move, and copying his most well-known characteristics. We need to exercise the same effort in studying Christ. We need to know what He said, what He did, and even what He thought so that we can emulate Him perfectly.

Third: Jesus was available to His Father.

He didn’t seek to “do His own thing.”

“I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants.” (John 5:30b GNT)

Jesus was so totally available to His Father that God could count on Him to be ready and willing to do whatever He asked. Being available also entails being obedient, and Jesus was obedient even to the point that He was willing to die a horrible death on a cross.

“But I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely just, because it is according to the will of God who sent me; it is not merely my own.” (John 5:30 NLT)

To be available means to be "present and ready for immediate use." Jesus was always where God wanted Him to be, and He was available to God continually. If we are to be more like Jesus, we need to follow His example in the following three areas. We need to remain...

1. Committed wholly to Him
2. Identified completely with Him
3. Available continually to Him

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