Why becoming like Jesus does not mean doing more

Have you ever looked at someone and thought “I want what they have.”

That could be a new car, a nice house, a great job, a loving relationship. We can all recognize the feelings of jealousy when they arise. There is a saying in western culture for this: 

“Keeping up with the Jonses.” 

It means that you always strive to get what your neighbour has.

“Keeping up with Jesus”

As Christians it can sometimes feel like we are playing our own version of this – called “Keeping up with Jesus.” 

We look at Jesus’ life, and the life of the apostles, and think “I want that.” And we strive and push to become more like Him. Constantly working, striving, ministering to become more like Him. More compassionate, the ability to heal the sick, and selflessly giving. 

But it's never enough.

Just like the neighbour next door, we never reach the standard that has been set.

And the truth is, we never will.

Joy and Rest in Him

Don’t misunderstand me. 

We are called to become like Jesus. It is a good and right thing to seek to become like Him.

But our methods of doing so are often faulty. The joy of the Christian hope is not that we can become like Jesus, but that Jesus became like us. He became human, he lived a faultless life, so we didn’t have to.

And in one beautiful act of selfless love he gave us what we long for – Perfection

A perfection that is not from striving, and chasing, but from believing and resting. A perfection based on Him, and not us. 

And as a result of his perfection, we can rest.

Becoming like Jesus is not about more striving. It is not about “keeping up with Jesus.” It is about knowing we already have Jesus, and letting Him satisfy.

And by letting Him satisfy us first and foremost, we will find a wonderful byproduct happens.

We get what we wanted all along. 

We become like Him.

For now, be blessed.

Aaron,

Theophilus Newsletter