31 Days toward Spiritual Maturity — Day 21
March 8th, 2008 Posted in 31 Days toward Spiritual Maturity, Growth
BECOMING LIKE CHRIST — Reflecting Christ Naturally
If we do a good deed for someone we really care about and we’re thanked by that person, we respond, “Aw, it was nothing,” or “It was my pleasure,” or “I enjoyed doing it for you,” or “It was no trouble.” It wasn’t a duty; it was a delight.
BECOMING LIKE CHRIST isn’t easy; it takes sacrifice, work, and discipline. On the other hand, if we really come to the point where we love Christ, it’s no longer a duty; it’s a delight! The apostle John, who loved Jesus, wrote, “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, . . .” (1 John 5:3) The amazing truth of the Christian faith is that ultimately it’s not a burden or a sacrifice to want to be like Christ, because we love Him! His will becomes more and more our own will. This is hinted at in what Jesus told us about making prayer requests: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” (John 15:7) If we’re really committed to Jesus and His Word, we’re going to want what He wants. Our requests will essentially be the same requests that He’d make if He were in our situation - and of course He’s going to grant those kinds of requests!
Dallas Willard, one of my favorite authors, is an expert on the subject of spirituality. He wrote, “The intention of God for each of us is that we should become the kind of person He can empower to do what we want.” (Preaching Today audio recording of an interview) That’s right: God wants us to be people who can do what we want, and that will happen when we become so much like Christ that we want what He wants!
Obedience to Christ is burdensome only when we keep insisting on having our own way when it’s clearly not His way for us. Our lives will be filled with many fewer personal hassles and much more joy and peace when our desire to be near Christ and to be like Him is greater than our desire for anything else! No wonder Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30)
Dave
