DYING TO BE LIKE CHRIST

As people agitate for change in different spheres of life, heroes are made. - in fashion, religion, politics, sports, etc. If we truly know and understand who Jesus is, we will desire nothing more than to be like him.

Philippians 3:10 The apostle Paul was one who desired with a passion to be like Christ. Paul thought about Christ, admired Christ and sought to be just like him.

The things we say and hear are the things that we think about. What we think about will, in turn, become our habits. The habits we develop will then shape our character. Our character will then go a long way towards determining our destiny. Therefore it is important, in growing to become more and more like Christ, to see how he thought and reasoned, and not only to look at what he did. Let us Jesus' mindset in his mission.


1. FINISH HIS WORK
John 4:27-34
v. 27 Jesus' mind, here, is set on helping the Samaritan woman. His disciples' mindset is that Jesus should not be talking to a woman. Jesus found joy and fulfillment in doing God's work.

Work typically takes away our strength, but Jesus is saying that working for God gives him strength. A Christian's strength and sustenance are not merely the physical food that he eats, but the mission work should instead be his motivation and inspiration.

Q. Who are you desiring to be like?
Q. Whose work are you wanting to make your food?
Q. Into what do you pour your energies?

We need to put our greatest energy into the right thing - God's work.


2. NOW IS THE TIME
John 4:35-38
Jesus' attitude and mindset were that it has to be now. There is work to do and now is the time to do it.

Jesus says that it is time for harvest. The sowing and watering has been done by others (others apart from us introduced them to God and the Bible earlier in their lives), and ours is the fun part - the harvest.

In everything, and not just evangelizing, let us reason as Jesus did and thus become who Jesus was.