Looking like Jesus
A book, a writing space, a longing
***Welcome, new subscribers. Since there have been a steady stream since I last posted, I thought I would let you know that I post a main thought on the 16th of each month (Melbourne time, that is, celebrating the release date of my book, Shaped by the Spirit,) and then a related prayer on the last day of the month. I look forward to journeying together!***
Several weeks ago, an small collection of people, scattered across the globe, gathered around our screens to continue walking a heart-journey together. After the hubbub of greetings had settled, our leader began to read a very familiar passage from God’s Word. Using a different version from what I was used to, the passage immediately came to life, transforming the well-trodden path of these words into something fresh, alive. As I listened, it was as if the Spirit was hovering, as if the delicate and consistent invitation of Jesus was extended.
Monthly Musings: Looking like Jesus
I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I think of the fruit of the Spirit, I can race through the list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Phew! Done. Prayed. Now I just need to wait for the Spirit’s download to ‘fix’ me. But, we all know it doesn’t quite work that way.
When reading it in The Message, though, I can’t race through it. The meaning shifts and deepens, as if a stream of light is sneaking in through a side-window, highlighting this clusters of words, revealing the texture and patterns, the deeper invitation in them to look and live like Jesus.
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard— things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
In this larger passage, Paul is writing to the collection of churches in Galatia, modern day Turkey, reminding them they that don’t need to follow the Jewish Law to follow Jesus because He fulfilled the Law. They can learn God’s way, not through the Law, but through the Spirit of Jesus. The Spirit of Jesus is to be their (and our) guide. Paul was saying, there is another way, and that way is being led by the Spirit.
He goes onto explain this idea of letting the Spirit guide (them and) us in the midst of the tug and pull of human desires, listing a range of thinking and behaviour that the Spirit longs to lead us away from and then, this varied collection of thinking and behaviour that the Spirit cannot wait to lead us into. It is a fruit-ladened orchard that He wants to consistently, regularly, habitually guide us into and see us become.
But how did Jesus live it out, and how can we echo His example as we seek to look like Jesus and live like Jesus?
affection for others - Jesus was and is full of love. Even when people hurt Him, like Peter, who betrayed Him multiple times, Jesus still loved him and kept loving him.
exuberance about life - A smile begins to curl as I think of Jesus, full of joy, going to weddings, laughing with the kids who gathered around Him.
serenity - Jesus was and is full of peace because His identity was in being God. He rested in the Father and was empowered by the Spirit. He didn’t need to strive or prove Himself. He was content in who He was and His purpose.
We develop a willingness to stick to things - Jesus was patient, listening to others, explaining to the disciples when they didn’t get it. (How many times did He do that?!) He went at the pace of those around Him, rather than running ahead of them.
a sense of compassion in the heart - He was kind, stopping to see and heal people so many others passed by and ignored or were cruel to. Think of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus spoke truth into her life, but He was also so very kind to her.
a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people - Jesus was and is good. What He did was right, moral, holy. He was not influenced by those around Him. He remained true to the ways of the Father.
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments - He was and is faithful. We see this all throughout the Old Testament, where God did not turn away from the people of Israel, ultimately revealing Himself in Jesus. He is a God who draws close to us, who is with us always, who will not go away. He is committed to us as His people.
not needing to force our way in life - He is gentle and tender, not rough and cruel. We are His children and He treats us with gentle kindness.
able to marshal and direct our energies wisely - And He was and is self-controlled. The only time that Jesus got angry was in righteous-anger, when the Jewish leaders were misusing their status, were not seeing or understanding what they should have as spiritual leaders, or were dishonouring God the Father. Otherwise, Jesus controlled Himself. He was human but we do not hear of Him complaining, whining like I sometimes find myself doing. He was human, but He did not gossip, giving a little behind-the-scenes context to His inner circle. He was human, but He did not blow up in frustration when the crowds kept coming and all He wanted was some alone time. He was human, but He was self-controlled.
As we read these words again …
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard— things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
… what resonates uncomfortably with you? For me, I get a bit edgy when I read not needing to force our way in life. Hmmm…
What particular fruit of the Spirit of Jesus do you need extra help with today?
Book News - Shaped, two years old today!
It is hard to believe that Shaped by the Spirit was released into the wild two years ago today. It has visited all sorts of countries over these couple of years, which has been pretty fun, and, amazingly, sits in the hands of many, many people now.
It has been so encouraging to hear from various people about the way in which my prayer for each reader - that they would be drawn deeper into the heart of the Father and turned further out into His world - have been answered for them.
To every person who has read Shaped by the Spirit, bought it as a gift for someone else or posted about it, written a review or shared it with someone else in one way or another, THANK YOU. Thank you so very much for championing Shaped as it has headed away from home and into the world. :-D
May it continue to encourage followers of Jesus to be shaped by the Spirit of God, through the pathway of prayer, as they join God at work in the world.
Here’s a fun little celebration video to watch. Thanks, my friends.
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I have never read the fruit of the Spirit in the Message. It really does provide more to think about. I think the one that resonates the most uncomfortably for me is on self-control. It's a daily thing!