Becoming More Like Jesus
Be holy as I am Holy
1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, you shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
Leviticus 19:1 -2
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14 – 16
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:28 – 30
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to be holy just as God is holy. Romans 8 tells us that we were predestined to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, Jesus. But how do we do that? I believe it’s primarily through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, leading us in truth, guiding us in God’s word, and then convicting us of sin so that we can repent and confess our sins, change our ways, and slowly become more like Jesus.
I love sharing a close intimate relationship with God, but I find myself drifting away. I know that sin separates me from my God, but I don’t always see how the choices I am making are not just leading me further away from God, but are sinful, unholy, disgraceful choices. God wants me to be holy as he is holy. God wants me to be more and more transformed into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. I want this for myself, too. I want to love God with all my heart and soul, and I want to obey God and serve him. I want to come and bow down before my Father God on my knees. I want to enjoy his presence without my sin clouding the way. I need the Holy Spirit to show me my evil ways, take the blinders off my eyes and reveal my sin. I will repent and change my ways and enjoy the blessing of sweet fellowship with God once again. I want to be restored to the joy of my salvation, just as David spoke of in Psalm 51.
Restore to Me the Joy of My Salvation
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgement.
5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:1-12
The prophet Nathen had come to David and convicted David of his sin with Bathsheba.
Psalm 51 was David’s response to his sin. He longed to be restored to the relationship he had with God.
The Blessing of Revealed Sin
There is some sin that I don’t even realize, or perhaps pay attention to such as how my words in some situations do not honor God. I am grateful when God reveals that this is sin. Or when I have been struggling in a relationship and I can finally see my errors and what I need to change. That is a blessing from God.
I know that when God reveals my sin to me, and I respond with repentance, I am filled once more with peace. I am so very grateful to be able to turn from this sin and turn to God. It is such a blessing to me.
There are still sins I struggle with regularly. With the Holy Spirit’s help, I am working on them. Paul says the following in Romans 7:18-19, 22-25
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing… 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:18-19, 22-25
Bible Verses that Help Me
Psalm 139 is one of my favorite Psalms of David. It’s about how God know us inside out and completely. Nothing is hidden from him. I like to pray Psalm 139:23-24.
23Search me, O God, and know my Heart! Try me and know my thoughts.
24 And see if there is and grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24
More recently I came upon the following verse which also seems appropriate.
How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
Job 13:23
Here are a few more verses that help keep me on track:
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
Test my heart and my mind.
Psalm 26:2
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove your heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
A Prayer
Dear Father God,
We long for close intimate, relationships with you. We want to be holy as you are holy, and our desire is to become more and more like Jesus.
But, Father, we know our sin comes in the way of our holiness. Show us how to live the sinless lives that you desire for us. Search our hearts and reveal our sin to us. We will repent and turn from our evil ways. Please bless us in this way. We want nothing but to be close to you. We want nothing but you.
Father God, you are our everything. We love you with all our hearts, souls, strength, and minds.
And it’s in the precious name of your Son, Jesus, that we come before you and pray,
Your grateful child,
SJR