Who do we look like? Were we the spitting image of our mother or father at birth, as a child, or now? Maybe there’s a resemblance to both our parents or not to either one. Perhaps people tell us we resemble someone else.
As a twin, my sister is always someone I resemble.
Besides physical attributes, there’s another way we resemble someone—in character.
To resemble Jesus is one of the most important aspects of Christianity.
But if we miss this, we miss the purest meaning for CHRISTian.
Yet, how do Christians look like Christ? After our spiritual birth, is there a way to really grow to resemble Jesus?
In Matthew 6, Christ seizes an opportunity to teach His disciples and listeners how to pray. While the prayer, line-by-line, is beautiful and powerful. There are other discoveries in the text.
It showcases who God is. And we uncover the mission of Jesus. Still further, it reveals how to look more like Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:9-13, ESV
6 Ways to Look More Like Jesus:
1.) Jesus recognized His Father’s holiness.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Hallowed means holy, sacred, and revered (Merriam Webster). Jesus acknowledges, Holy are You, Father, revered is Your name.
To resemble Jesus, we recognize our Father as holy and we revere His name. Voicing it to God in prayer. And voicing it to others—My God is holy, hallowed is His name.
2.) Jesus desired His Father’s Kingdom.
“Your kingdom come.” Jesus spent His life bringing heaven’s kingdom to earth. It’s seen in His words, actions, and disciples. And God’s kingdom is displayed in His peace, grace, love, and mercy.
We may spend years building our kingdom. But it often crumbles.
To resemble Jesus, we desire God’s Kingdom over our own. It’s seen in our words, actions and in how we disciple others. We display the peace, grace, love, and mercy of Jesus.
3.) Jesus busied himself with His Father’s business.
“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
At only 12-years old, Jesus focused on His Father’s business (Luke 2:29, NKJV). And there are many other accounts where Christ states His purpose was to do the Father’s will.
Resembling Jesus, we busy ourselves with our Father’s business. We pray and seek His will. Instead of our life characterized by mere busyness, we make the business of heaven our life.
4.) Jesus relied on His Father’s provision.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
As modeled in His life, Jesus asked God to provide—daily. These needs included physical and spiritual nourishment. But Christ never concerned himself with tomorrow’s provision. This reminds us of the manna God provided each day to the Israelites (Exodus 16).
Looking like Jesus, we trust God’s provision for each day. We ask Him and we trust Him for physical and spiritual nourishment.
5.) Jesus extended His Father’s forgiveness.
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Jesus extended forgiveness for sins to a woman marked “sinful” (Luke 7:48 ESV). He asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34 ESV). And Christ died so that our sins were paid for and forgiven.
To resemble Jesus, we freely and liberally forgive others who wrong us. Even those who are repeat offenders.
6.) Jesus combated evil with His Father’s Word.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Jesus overcame temptation with Scripture, “It is written” (Matthew 4:1-11). Christ freed people with evil spirits. He spoke about abstaining from evil. And Jesus said to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
To resemble Jesus, we use God’s Word to overcome temptation. We protect our heart from evil. And we overcome evil with good.
Which of the 6 ways do you desire to resemble Jesus most?
Read my IAF article, 15 Scriptures to Prayer Over our Family.
Featured photo by Bekah Russom on Unsplash/Top hoto by Farrinni on Unsplash/Middle photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash/bottom photo by María Victoria Heredia Reye on Unsplash.
This is good. It reminds me of some of the same things God reminds me of. Be blessed!
Thanks for your comment, Bill. To resemble Jesus is one of the most important aspects of Christianity. But if we miss this, we miss the purest meaning for CHRISTian.
I desire God’s kingdom most, but really, all 6 are good!
Well-said, Karen, and spiritually right on! Praise God for that spirit of wisdom. May blessings abound.
Appreciate your kind words, Mary. May we desire to resemble Jesus more and more in word and dead. Blessings!
Great points, Karen. I love your line, “To resemble Jesus is one of the most important aspects of Christianity.” It’s true! It’s not about just following Christ, but also trying our best to be like Him.
I agree, Jessica. We make choices every day and one of those is to be intentional to choose holiness, to choose to follow Jesus with a whole heart that resembles Him in every way.
I love how you used the Lord’s Prayer to show how to be like Christ. I had never thought about the prayer in these terms. This is very beneficial and useful. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Yvonne. Looking like Jesus, we trust God’s provision for each day. We ask Him and we trust Him for physical and spiritual nourishment.
Thank you for these applications of the Lord’s Prayer!
Appreciate you commenting, Ava. To resemble Jesus, we freely and liberally forgive others who wrong us. Even those who are repeat offenders.
Amen. His Word holds many answers.
Yes, Melissa. To resemble Jesus, we use God’s Word to overcome temptation. We protect our heart from evil. And we overcome evil with good.
If we could but get a glimpse of the totality of God’s holiness, how would that change us? Wonderful message, Karen!
Nancy, I imagine it would drastically change us. I alway think about Isaiah 6, the vision of God’s holiness, the Lord high and lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple!
Oh Karen, I love how you highlighted each passage in the Lord’s Prayer, the Model Prayer that Jesus taught us! I have read many articles on the Lord’s Prayer and it never gets old for me. We need reminders and encouragement to keep on growing, day by day, to resemble our Savior. And this is a deep insight to apply each verse of the Lord’s Prayer to this daily pursuit. Wonderful post!
Thank you, Melissa. Glad this spoke to you! I never want the pursuit of looking more and more like Jesus to get old. So I like how you mentioned that about the Lord’s prayer. Often, we become so familiar with something in scripture, we forget the treasure it holds. God bless!
Thanks for these steps in helping others to look more like Jesus. It’s a goal we can strive toward but will not completely arrive until we see Him face to face.