“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
This is Paul’s definition of maturity in Ephesians 4:13-15: measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Wow. Those of us who thought we were spiritually mature might want to just sit with that a bit! Are you truly becoming more and more like Jesus? Are you moving toward the full and complete standard of Christ?
Becoming more like Jesus isn’t just acting like Jesus. It’s doing the things Jesus would do because you’re thinking the things Jesus would think and feeling the things Jesus would feel. Becoming more like Jesus means your motivations for doing good stem from a heart of love for all people. So, what are the character traits of Jesus we are called to emulate? Here are just a few listed on bible.org:
- Humble service (John 13:1-5)
- Holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16)
- Righteousness (1 John 3:7)
- Purity (1 John 3:3)
- Love (Ephesians 5:1-2)
- Forgiveness (Colossians 3:13)
- Compassion (Ephesians 4:32)
- Endurance (Hebrews 12:2-4)
- Submission (1 Peter 2:21-24)
- Obedience (Philippians 2:5-8)
- Kindness (Luke 6:35)
- Generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-9)
In which one of these areas are you allowing God to work in you to help you become more like Jesus?
Author: Anne Bosarge