Building Zeal By Being Like Jesus

Hollywood has made a fortune from the plot of someone else inhabiting your mind and body and thus changing your life. Freaky Friday, 17 Again, and Family Switch all capitalized on this theme for some hilarious scenarios.

Author Max Lucado, however, offers a more serious thought. “What if for one day Jesus were to become you?”

“What if, for twenty-four hours, Jesus wakes up in your bed, walks in your shoes, lives in your house, assumes your schedule?” Max asked. “Your boss becomes His boss, your mother becomes His mother, your pains become His pains? With one exception, nothing about your life changes. You health doesn’t change. Your circumstances don’t change. Your schedule isn’t altered. Your problems aren’t solved. Only one change occurs.

“What if, for one day and one night, Jesus lives your life with His heart?”

It’s an intriguing thought, isn’t it? Think about it.

The heart of Jesus directing you. Making your decisions. Interacting with your family and friends.

Hmm. Sounds a bit like Peter’s challenge for us to follow Jesus’ example and walk in His steps (1 Pet. 2:20-22). It speaks to the point Paul made in Romans 8:29. “For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son…” Most standard translations read, “conformed to the image of His Son”

Becoming like Christ. Molded after His image. Modeling His zeal for the Father. For spiritual matters. For ministry. For discipleship. For eternal verities. Consider, having the heart and zeal of Jesus in these four areas.

#1 In Attitude.

Paul commanded us to have the attitude of Christ (Phil. 2:5). To be crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). And to fix our eyes on things above (Col. 3:1-2).

If Jesus’ heart lived in you, would you have more joy? Less stress? Would you look at the world differently? Would you react to the problems and challenges of life the same way? Would you still worry about what you’re worrying about?

#2 In Relationships.

Jesus saw in others what they didn’t see in themselves. Peter, James, and John may have thought they were “just” fisherman. Matthew lived with the dreaded label of “a publican.” Maybe Simon thought his most important role in life was to be a political zealot. But Jesus saw more. And He helped them see new possibilities. A greater ministry. And an exciting future.

In dealing with people’s sins, problems, and foibles, Jesus was patient, kind, loving and forgiving. Ask Mary M. Or the sinful woman in Luke 7. Or the woman taken in adultery in John 8. Or Zachaeus.

If we are to allow Jesus’ heart to become our heart, we will practice the Golden Rule. Treat others with respect. Bless those who curse us. And live the Second Great Commandment.

#3 In Ministry.

Jesus saw His mission in life as the Father’s mandate to “seek and save the lost.” Each of us is given gifts, talents, and abilities to serve, to minister, and to make a difference. What will you do? And how will you use them?

Jesus’ ministry wasn’t selfish, but selfless. It wasn’t to bring honor to himself, but to glorify God. And it was not a begrudging burden, but a beautiful blessing and a sacred trust. And so we see the Jesus as He went about doing good.

To have the heart of Jesus we must understand that the servant is not above his Master. Accept that we’ve been called and created for good works. And humbly admit that when we’ve done our duty, we are still unprofitable servants.

#4 In Holiness.

Jesus’ life was characterized by holiness. He’s called the Holy One of God (Mk.1:24). The Holy Servant (Ax 4:27). And our High Priest who is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26-27).

While we may see ourselves as spiritually flawed, falling far short of the Christian virtues, and feeling so unworthy of His grace, we are called to be holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16). We are identified as a holy nation, described as a holy priesthood and referred to as holy brethren (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; 3:5).

Becoming like Jesus, as the Bible defines it, is not an impossible ideal. God calls us to crucify self, be transformed, and allow Christ to live in us (Gal. 3:20).

Will you “be Jesus” today?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman