Following Jesus is more than just going physically after Him, but becoming conformed to His image. Let us see some godly means the Lord has made available for us to see Jesus vividly and so follow in His footsteps.
CULTIVATING HIS MIND
The outward appearance of a man is the inner working of his mind. For us to grow in conformity with Christ, you must begin with having access into His mind. Having the mind of Christ manifest outwardly His outlook on you.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who, being in form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Phil. 2:5 –7
The scripture revealed that Jesus had the mind that motivated Him to do whatever He did. For example, He knew He was equal with God, even God Himself confirmed that He was God (Heb. 1: 8 - 10) yet Jesus did not hold unto right and insisted on it. He did not defend it and clung as the way to live rather He emptied Himself and made Himself of no reputation.
For you to become wholly conformed to His example you have to change your mind to Jesus’ mind. Jesus was everything in everything. He had all authority vested in Him;
“All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made (John 1:3)
yet He regarded not all these in His relationship, with men and God. He even washed His disciple’s feet and served them. Let us begin to allow the mind of Christ to replace the mind of the flesh that we have been so used in doing things all along. Effortlessly, things about us will begin to change to that of Christ.
It is possible to have the mind of Christ as you study the word of God closely, follow His actions in scriptures with much prayer and with the help of the Holy Spirit illuminating your heart and showing you the mind behind His actions.
“BEHOLDING HIS GLORY…..”
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed in the same image from glory to glory, just as the spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3 :18
God’s word serves as a mirror to reflect into our hearts the glory of the Lord Jesus. Not until the veil of the flesh and the deception of the world system is taken from our hearts and our faces, the word of God can never become plain and open unto our hearts.
Any man with a veiled face can never see any beauty in the lifestyle that Jesus lived. He is seen as a man of sorrow.
He has no form and comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isa 53:2-3
But to a man whose veil has been unveiled, a liberated man from the deceit of the flesh, a man who has no regard for the world system because he sees it as vanity upon vanity. Jesus’ lifestyle is a perfect example for him to enjoy rest and glory.
As we behold Him continually in the word of God, a miracle takes place for we are constantly being transformed and constantly losing sight of “the sights that dazzle” in the world. This change is gradual, progressive and cumulative.
This transformation to your soul and character requires intimate fellowship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit is there to reveal Jesus to us in the word of God and we have the privilege of looking unto His person on a daily basis without any intimidation. Jesus is ever ready to reveal Himself. Look out for Jesus, each time the word is broken. The more we see Him as He is the more like Him we shall be.
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare to you. John 16: 7, 13 – 14
Master Jesus comforted His disciples by assuring them that His absence will usher them into the comforter (HOLY SPIRIT) that will be more needful for them. The comforter dwells within our heart, inspires is within, instructs us personally from the inside. The Holy Spirit is everywhere, the world cannot separate Him from us because He is inside, they cannot flout His instructions because He speaks within our hearts. He is there before the evil imaginations will come. If we consult Him, He will show us the ways of escape from any danger. He searches the deep things of God and communicates them to us, not through the external ears.
Another need for sending the Holy Spirit is in (John 16: 12 – 13) when Jesus was with His disciples, He knew that their capacity to comprehended and assimilate spiritual truth was very small. He could not teach them many truths because of their inability to understand them. Even when He rose from dead, they were still ignorant of the scripture.
Following Jesus will be burdensome and under struggling if we depend on our mental abilities or our physical strength. But the spirit of truth will come to teach us and guide us into all truth about Jesus, about His lifestyle, His motive and about His will for your life.
The Holy Spirit does not speak of Himself. He does not preach another personal doctrine. He does not divert the attention of the believer from Jesus to Himself. He only takes of the Lord to show to us. From this we know that it is a clear fact that without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, following Jesus will be impossible. The Holy Spirit teaches to your understanding what others cannot teach you. The Holy Spirit will work on you until you become like Jesus.
OBEY HIM DAILY AND GRIEVE HIM NOT
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph 4:30
The Holy Spirit can be grieved. If you constantly disobey His guidance, teachings and revelations, He will warn you but will not threaten you, He will convict you but will not condemn you. If you insist on your own way then He withdraw from you
Obedience to the Holy Spirit will produce the fruit that brings forth the character of Jesus. His stable instrument of guidance in the word of God though He may use other ways
When you walk in the spirit you will not live contrary to the written word of God and you will not come fulfill the lust of the flesh.
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLES OF MEN WHO FOLLOWED JESUS
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” 1 Cor. 11:1
“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me “ 1 Cor. 4:16
Brethren, join in the following my examples, and note those who walk, as you have us for a pattern. Phil. 3:17
The Lord had made provision for us to grow by providing men with flesh and blood for us to examine their lives and conduct. Some people find it difficult to believe the possibilities of becoming like Jesus because He never sinned.
Example of such men that should challenge us to obedience are Elijah who prayer earnestly that there should be no rain and God heard and answered his prayer, also Joseph in a strange land resisted Portiphar’s wife and fled naked to escape her trap of adultery.
It is important to note that you follow men that follow men that follow Christ and avoid their examples where they avoided Christ’s life. This is where the Lord depends on men to act as trainers to bring up the younger men in the way of the Lord. Help the young ones by their live and experiences.
Finally following Jesus is the only way to becoming a fellow heir with Him. Forsake all, follow Jesus and become a fisher of men.
God help us and give us the grace as we do so in Jesus name, Amen.
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