Free, fruitful, and faithful
?I just want to be like Jesus.? Have you ever said this statement? The noblest of all Christian aspirations is to be like Christ. We know this. But if asked to describe what that means, many would find the notion of being Christlike difficult to describe. The Bible urges us to walk ?in His steps,? and ?to let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.? In our commitment to obey the Scriptures, we must have some understanding of the characteristics of Christlikeness. Though it would be impossible to exhaust this subject in one brief article, allow me share some insights on the characteristics of Christlikeness that the Lord has recently shown me.
First of all, Christ was FREE. He was free from the bondage that comes only through yielding to the temptation of sin. He was ?tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin? (Heb. 4:15). Christ always enjoyed the protection and the provision of the Father because He refused to trespass moral and spiritual boundaries. Because of this, Christ was at all times free from guilt, emotional scars, regret, misdirected desires, or any other consequence of sin. Being free, He freely did the will of His Father at all times.
Secondly, Christ was FRUITFUL. Christ was productive for the sake of the Kingdom of God. He grew in the fruits of ?wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.? In other words, He was fruitful intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. He bore the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and the fruit of souls. A Christlike life is a fruit-bearing life. Jesus has chosen us and ordained us to ?bear fruit that will last.? (John 15:16) The fruit we bear is still Christ?s fruit; Jesus said ?much fruit? comes from abiding in Him, for we are ?branches? and He is the ?Vine.? He produces the fruit in and through us; we get the joy of bearing it.
Lastly, Jesus was FAITHFUL. Jesus did not do His own will but the will of His Father (John 5:30). Jesus claimed that He needed to do the will of God more than He needed food (John 4:34). Jesus ?was faithful to Him who appointed Him? (Heb. 3:2), even to the appointed death of a Roman Cross for the sins of the world. Jesus was busy being faithful to the will of the Father assigned to Him. We tend to focus on the ?busy? over the ?faithful? in that last sentence, but God is not asking us to be busy for the sake of being busy, but to simply be faithful to His will which He has revealed for us. ?Moreover it is required of a steward, that a man be found faithful? (1 Cor. 4:2).
So what are we to do in becoming Christlike? I have several practical suggestions (only as one who is also in the process of becoming Christlike). First, keep in mind that God ?works in us both to will and to do according to His good purpose.? Only God does the lasting work of transforming us daily. But in taking up our own responsibility, I speak first concerning FREEDOM: make a list of all your desires, lusts, or habits, spiritual or worldly, good or bad, then identify those on the list that hinder your becoming like the Master. Ask the Lord to replace those desires, lusts and habits with His desires.
Next, concerning being FRUITFUL, be sure the ?basics? of Bible reading and prayer are prioritized daily. God?s Word is clear: apart from abiding in Jesus, we can do nothing. Sure, we can be fruitful in worldly, secular terms without seeking first His Kingdom; but eternal fruit, ?fruit that will last,? can only come as an outgrowth of abiding in the Lord. Ask the Lord to give you balanced fruit, that all areas of your life will be fruitful for the kingdom of God.
Lastly, concerning FAITHFULNESS, let me simply ask a couple of questions: First, is there a principle in the Word of God (His revealed, objective will) that you have been unfaithful in applying? Second, is there some task, some action, or some calling that God has revealed for your life from which you have balked? If so, recognize this for what it is: unfaithfulness. Let?s finish, not quit the race. Jesus is our example who said, ?I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do? (John 17:4).
The name ?Christian? actually means ?little Christ.? Let us live up to the name, following the example of our Savior. In becoming more like Him, we will be growing in freedom, fruitfulness and faithfulness, to the glory of the Father!
