God wants you to be like him (Ephesians 5:1)
Introduction: God created you in his image and just as he was at the beginning of the world, He is still very much concerned about you being like him. (Gen 1:27-28). Being created in his image means that you were created in the nature of God, you have the characteristics and the qualities of God and not just his look. Man lost this great privilege by disobedience but God later sent Jesus to redeem man so that he can be restored to that nature. Jesus came, lived as a human being and practically showed men the way to be like God. We cannot see God but we have seen the life that Jesus lived, therefore it is easier to understand what is expected from us, to be in God’s image. You need to desire to be like him and believe that you can, for this purpose of God to be fulfilled in your life. There are many important roles to play including the following:
- Be conscious that the life of God is deposited in you.
God put his life and nature inside you the day you became born again. The life of God exists in you like a new baby when you first accept Jesus. When a baby is born, he will not be able to do many things that adults do but as he is nurtured by the mother, and interacts with matured adults, he will gradually be behaving like an adult. He is not less than a human being when he is born, it’s just that he needs to learn and be nurtured to act like an adult. In the same way, the life of God in you is complete now, even though you still do some wrong things. You need to be conscious of this fact that you are carrying God everywhere you are. That consciousness will help you to respond to him as he prompts you and you will just discover that you are acting like him.
- Be very close to him to be able to manifest his nature:
In 2 Corinthians 3:18, the bible says that when we stay in God’s presence looking at him, we are gradually changed from one level of his glory to another. We are in God’s presence when we worship him or pray or meditate or study his word reverently or fellowship with others who love him.
If you stay in his presence and allow yourself to be nurtured continuously, (like a baby feeding and interacting with the mother and other adults) you will grow and manifest the nature, the power and all other attributes of God. You will be like a matured man who can do many things a baby can’t do.
The method instituted by him is not a once and for all supply. He expects you to remain in him, stay attached to him, continually get supply from him for your growth and hence your manifestation of his nature.
- Deny self if you want to follow him?
In Luke 9: 23, Jesus told his disciples that those who want to follow him must deny self, take up their cross and follow him. To deny self simply means saying no to the desires of the flesh. Whenever the flesh suggests anything to you (things that are contrary to what the Holy Spirit wants), decide not to do it. As you continue to deny it of its desires, the flesh will be weak and your spirit will overpower the flesh in your life.The cross is something you take up, not the inevitable trials or limitations. The cross is not sickness or any form of evil. It refers to circumstances, conditions, decisions, actions etc that are not convenient but will ultimately help people in getting saved or knowing the Lord better. It means saying yes to something that is not convenient for Jesus’ sake. Real crosses involve the will. They affect other people’s lives positively.Taking it daily means consciously taking up the self-denials and opportunities for serving others that each day brings. You consciously select daily those options that will please Christ, pain self and aim at putting self to death. As you consciously do all these, the Holy Spirit will take over and his life, the life of God will manifest in you.
- Continue to imitate and obey him:
In Ephesians chapter 5:v1 the bible says you should imitate God as beloved Children. Children who feel loved by their parents always imitate them in everything. Gradually as they do this, they behave like the parents. You are a beloved child of God, you too should imitate God in everything. For example you know that God is love, therefore you should endeavour to love everyone at all times.
Imitating him implies that you must learn of him and know him very well (Matt 11:29). If you don’t know him it will be impossible to imitate him. You should rely on the Holy Spirit every time to understand whatever you read in the bible and to strengthen you to practice it.God is interested in you obeying his word and not just learning it. It is possible to know the word of God and not practice it like the people in Ezekiel 33:30-32. Many people have knowledge, admire and watch some believers especially the leaders from a distance and make comments about them yet their own hearts are far away from God. If this continues you cannot be like God.
- Your associates should be those who are truly following Jesus? In 1 Timothy 2:22, you are encouraged to follow righteousness, faith, love and peace together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Just as peer pressure lead people to evil, it can also be harnessed to aid one in learning, following, and obeying the Lord. Let your close friends and whenever possible your associates be those who truly love God. Ensure that the most important person in your life your marriage partner is someone that is sincerely thirsty for God. This will enhance your manifestation of the nature of God because he who walks with the wise shall be wise.
- Let your desire to be like him be very strong
When people go to the Gym for the purpose of losin weight; some engage in high impact exercise while some in low impact exercise. Those who are involved in high impact type usually lose more weight than others if they spend the same time. Aim at high impact Christianity, have a strong desire to be like God and practice all the steps described above with all seriousness; you will surely reap more benefits of manifesting the nature of God compared with those whose desires are not very strong. There may seem to be no difference between the believers who obey God in all things and those who don’t do so right now, but the time to distinguish between the two will definitely come. Luke 6:46-49.
Conclusion
God’s purpose has not changed. He created man in his image and when Adam failed, he sent Jesus to restore the image in man. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, make up your mind today to imitate him in all aspects of life and He will be pleased with you now and in eternity.