Building Christlike character:
God's great desire for you
Is there anything more important in life than building Christlike character?
The popular notion is if you become like Jesus, you'll lose your own identity in the process. Wrong! It's the only way to find out who you really are. What's more, the Holy Spirit will turn you into the best possible you that you can be.
Who wouldn't want that?
As you read on, please remember this: I don't claim Christlike character for myself, even though I set out on this pursuit about 50 years ago. I'm better than I was, but far from where I'd like to be. I won't get there until I pass from this life.
So don't hesitate. God is infinitely patient with us, and I believe he delights in every bit of progress we make.
Let's press on…
Is this even realistic?
Considering that Jesus Christ is the only sinless human being who ever lived, is it even realistic to want to be like him?
Here is one of many Bible verses that encourage us to be like Jesus:
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:6, ESV)
If we had to accomplish this on our own power, it would indeed be impossible, but Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all his followers, to constantly direct us in the Christian life.
You may fear that if you step onto this path, you will no longer fit in—and that's true. Sincere, devoted Christians are as different from the world as a flower is from a cess pool. You'll stand out all right, but in the best way possible.
Think about the living saints you respect. They are different, aren't they? They're more peaceful and navigate life with quiet assurance. They have sloughed off the abrasive qualities of other people.
In short, they are shockingly like Jesus.
Building Christlike character: What is he like?
Even though the Holy Spirit is the leader on this project, you need to know what the goal is so you can move from where you are to where you want to be.
We learn about Jesus through the pages of the Bible. The four gospels are the place to start. Even though they each take a different viewpoint of him, they describe the same person and do not contradict one another. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide a full portrait of Jesus' character.
Obviously we cannot expect to go around performing miracles as Jesus did. He is God and we are not. He had a specific mission in life while you and I have our own tasks. No matter what God has called you to do, building Christlike character is a vital part of it.
When you have Christ's character as your standard, you will know when you are measuring up and when you are falling short. Many years ago the WWJD (what would Jesus do?) bracelets were a great idea, but were worthless unless you knew how Jesus acted in similar situations. That knowledge comes only from the Bible.
As you come to know Jesus better through Bible reading, you will observe his love for others, his patience, compassion, honesty, wisdom, and obedience to God's laws. He set an example of a life well-lived.
What does the Holy Spirit do?
The Holy Spirit will take your surrendered being and begin to re-create it. This lifelong work is called sanctification, a steady movement toward holiness. Holiness means being set apart, and if you are serious, you will be set apart.
Progress may be slow because we have to break many old habits and replace them with new ones. Whatever doesn't fit Christlike character has to go:
- Hate
- Anger
- Bitterness
- Lustful thoughts and actions
- Intoxication
- Dishonesty
- Irritability
- Lack of faith
- Coarse language
- Cruelty
- Selfishness
Building Christlike character is spiritual maturity at its highest. Jesus is the ultimate of every good trait.
The Holy Spirit's gentle promptings will let you know when you have fallen short and when you have done well. Over time you will experience disappointment or a sense of well-being as you go through tests. This is not your conscience. With a strong knowledge of God's laws and Jesus' character, you will be trying to please God, not yourself.
Don't expect an audible or even interior voice telling you exactly what to do. The Spirit's promptings are more subtle, but the more you trust God, the stronger those signals will be
Confident but humble
All sense of pride will vanish from your life as you come to realize it is God doing a work in you, not your own abilities. This is humbling but brings with it a deep confidence because you are powerfully loved by God.
Building Christlike character will be the most important thing you ever do. It will enable you to treat people as Jesus did, with love and understanding. You will stop trying to control others, with all their faults, and accept them as God accepts you. You will respond to life's frustrations more patiently with the assurance that ultimately, God is in control.
As the hectic world goes on around you, you will start to change. You will gradually grow into the person God wants you to be. Your progress depends on how much you surrender and trust.
You may sometimes be frustrated at your seeming lack of progress, but the Holy Spirit sets the pace. His tender correction and encouragement are the perfect combination. To love Jesus is to want to be like him. With the Spirit's support, you can be.
