Being Like Jesus in a Broken World

Hi, I'm Pastor John and welcome to

Insights.

Today we're going to talk about being

like Jesus in a broken world.

And uh you know when children admire a

parent or a role model, they often mimic

them, copying how they speak, how they

walk, even how they laugh. I remember a

little boy who wanted to be just like

his father. When his dad wore boots, he

wanted boots. When his dad read the

newspaper, he grabbed one, too.

Imitation flows naturally out of

admiration. In the Christian life, our

highest calling is to imitate Christ.

We're not called merely to admire him

from a distance, but to reflect his

humility, his servants, and his

obedience in our everyday lives.

So, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we just

thank you for this opportunity to take a

look at your word. God, help us to see

you in us and to learn how to reflect

that to the world. And we give you all

the glory and all the praise in Jesus

name. Amen. So, Philippians 2:5-8 says,

"Let this mind be in you which was also

in Christ Jesus, who being in the form

of God, thought it not robbery to be

equal with God, but made himself of no

reputation, and took upon him the form

of a servant, and was made in the

likeness of men. And being found in

fashion as a man, he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death, even the

death of the cross."

So everything in Christ's life was an

example to us of how to live our lives,

how to uh relate to other people, how to

share with people what Jesus said.

So I I really want to look at this

because it's really important. It's

something that we need to do. Paul's

letter to the Philippians was written

while he was imprisoned in Rome. And

despite his chains, his tone is filled

with joy and encouragement. The

Philippian church was a beloved

congregation to Paul

and he desired to see them walking in

unity, humility, and spiritual maturity.

In chapter 2, Paul makes a powerful

appeal. Let this mind be in you, which

was also in Christ Jesus. He draws their

attention not to the worldly examples of

greatness, but to the greatest example

of all, Jesus himself. This teaching was

radical in its context. Philippi was a

Roman colony where honor, power, and

status were highly esteemed. Leaders in

that culture sought to climb upward in

reputation. Yet Paul presents the

example of Christ who willingly

descended, leaving heavenly glory,

embracing servantthood, and humbling

himself unto death. This is the this is

the great paradox of the Christian

faith. True greatness is found in

humility.

True authority is found in servantthood

and true victory in surrender to God's

will.

It's not how high you climb but how well

you serve. Thus to be like Jesus is not

about external religiosity but about

inward transformation. It is about

adopting his mind and living out his

character. The message is clear. The

path of Christ is the path we must walk

if we are all if we are to call

ourselves his disciples. You know that

word Christian which was coined first in

Antioch

you know is something that we have to

keep in mind that word means Christlike

or to be like Christ and um being like

Jesus may sound simple but it's a

lifelong journey for every believer. We

do not merely learn about Jesus. We're

called to reflect him in thought, word,

and deed. Many Christians admire his

sacrifice, but struggle to live his

example. Yet, Paul makes it plain. The

same mind that was in Christ Jesus can

be in us. So, we're going to take a look

at four characteristics of Christ that

we're called to imitate. His humility,

which laid aside glory. his servantthood

which lifted others, his obedience which

embraced the father's will and his love

which endured even under the cross.

These are four very

specific things that we can imitate as

in our own lives and we can strive to

produce them where other people can see

them. I've made this statement many

times. Your testimony does not take

place at church. Your testimony takes

place out the world where people see

you. And if you're if you're living out

your testimony, you these four things

should become evident in your life. So

we're going to explore these we not only

to understand them but to learn how to

apply them to ourselves. For the world

doesn't need more Christians who talk

about Jesus as James said, but believers

who live like Jesus. James said, "You

can show me your faith by your words and

I will show you my faith by my actions."

And that's the that is the key. So the

first one is the humility of Jesus.

Christ was equal with God yet he made

himself of no reputation. This humility

is staggering.

He He who spoke the universe into being

took on the form of a servant. Humility

is not weakness but its strength under

control.

It is not thinking less of oneself but

esteeming others more highly.

The mind of Christ teaches us that

status and recognition are not the

measure of greatness. Services. What you

do for others reflects Jesus in you.

Support uh humble yourselves in the

sight of the Lord and he shall lift you

up. That's James 4:10. Consider

a leader who chooses to serve alongside

their team instead of demanding special

treatment. Such humility inspires

loyalty and respect more than any title

ever could. So ask yourself daily, how

can I lower myself to lift someone else?

Genuine humility is shown when we are

willing to step aside to listen and to

honor others above ourselves.

It's big. Uh that is the true essence of

Christ. When he washed the disciples

feet, he said the son of man did not

come to be served but to serve. And he

set forth the example of the humility

that we should imitate in our lives

every day. It's how we serve other

people that is important, not how we're

served.

The servantthood of Jesus.

This is a big one. Jesus declared that

he came not to be served but to serve.

Mark 10:45. His servantthood was not

symbolic but practical. Washing feet,

feeding the hungry, healing the sick.

True servantthood does not seek

recognition. It meets needs quietly and

faithfully. To be like Jesus is to take

up the towel and basin in our daily

lives.

Whosoever will be great among you, let

him be your minister. And whosoever will

be chief among you, let him be your

servant. We don't like to hear that one.

We Everybody wants to be uh out in

front. They want people to notice them.

And Jesus says that's not if you do

that, that's your reward in that alone.

Think of unsung heroes in churches. The

one who clean, they set up chairs. They

pray for others unseen. Though unnoticed

by men, they're honored by God because

they mirror Christ's servant heart.

This week, look for one practical way to

serve someone without being asked and

without expecting credit. That unseen

act of love reflects Jesus more than

many sermons.

Keep that in mind.

Don't do it for the reward here on

earth. do it for the reward that you'll

receive in heaven.

The obedience of Christ, that's pretty

Christ's obedience was absolute. Think

about this. This is God in the flesh

sets aside his godly power and is

willing to go all the way to the cross

and to die in our place.

And he did he does it willingly.

Christ's obedience was absolute. He

submitted to the father's will even when

led to Gethsemane in Calvary. Remember

while he's in the garden of Gethsemane

praying that night and he's sweating

blood. He as he tells God if there be

another way

let this pass from me but nevertheless

let it be thy will and not my will.

That's true obedience.

Obedience is the test of true

disciplehip. It is not enough to know

God's word. we must do it. Jesus

obedience shows us that surrender may be

costly but it always leads to glory.

Uh Hebrews 5:'8 says, "Though he were a

son, yet learned he obedience by the

things which he suffered."

Missionaries who leave comfort, career,

and homeland to follow God's call embody

the spirit of obedience or willingness

to go wherever God sends them is a

living testimony of Christlike

obedience.

Ask God today, "What step of obedience

are you asking of me?" Whether it is

forgiving, witnessing, or giving,

obedience is the gateway to deeper in

intimacy with him.

The last point we want to look at is the

love of Jesus. We always hear about

Jesus loves me. Um, God is a God of

love, which he truly is. But listen to

this. Above all, Jesus's life was marked

by love. On the cross, he prayed,

"Father, forgive them. His love was

unconditional. It was sacrificial, and

it was unending." To be like Jesus means

to love not only those who love us, but

also those who oppose us. Love is the

greatest evidence of Christ's likeness.

John 13:35 says, "By this shall all men

know that you are my disciples if you

have love one to another."

Corey Timboom

is a unique individual in the world of

God.

She survived the Nazi death camps. And

listen to what she said. She when Corey

Tinboom forgave a former Nazi guard

after World War II,

she reflected Christ's love. That love

went beyond human ability. It was

divine. Can you imagine

having witnessed the things she

witnessed in a Nazi death camp and the

Nazi guard that was responsible for

whatever was going to happen to her,

live or die, she forgave her for all the

horrors that she had lived through.

That's a pretty tall

uh thing to do.

So if you're going to apply

living the love of Jesus, you have to

choose to love the unlovable.

You have to send kindness where hatred

exists. You have to pray for those who

hurt you. And in doing so, you reflect

Jesus to a watching world. You heap

coals of fire upon their head.

So to be like Jesus

is the highest calling of every be

believer. It is not achieved by human

strength but by daily surrender to the

spirit. The humility of Christ reminds

us that greatness is found in lowering

ourselves. His servantthood challenges

us to meet needs with quiet

faithfulness. His obedience calls us to

trust God even when it costs us dearly.

And his love compels us to embrace

friend and foe alike.

The world is desperate for real

Christians, not perfect people, but

transformed people. Your workplace, your

neighborhood, your family needs to see

Jesus in you. The question today is not

do I admire Jesus,

but am I becoming like him?

Let us choose today to walk in his steps

that when we see our lives they might

say surely they have been with Jesus.

The Greek word for mind that Paul used

is fao

and what it means is to set one's mind

or to adopt a mindset. Paul's not

speaking of passing of a passing thought

but of an internal choice to adopt

Christ's attitude. In the Old Testament,

we see a parallel in Isaiah 53, the pro

prophecy of the suffering servant. Just

as Christ humbled himself and bore our

iniquities, Isaiah foretold that he

would be despised and rejected of men.

This points to the consistency of God's

redemptive plan. Humility and suffering

preede glory. Christ logically.

Philippians 2 shows us the kinosis or

the self-mping

of Christ. Though fully God, he

willingly laid aside his privileges to

redeem us. This does not mean he ceased

to be God, but he that he chose not to

use his divine power for his own

advantage.

The cross becomes the ultimate display

of humility, servantthood, obedience,

and love. remember was he's hanging on

the cross. He h he's there with two

thieves. One says, "Well, if you're

truly the Christ, save yourself and save

us, too." And the other one says, "When

you come into your kingdom, remember

me."

For the believer, the application is

clear. Our lives must point to Christ by

embodying these same attributes. To have

the mind of Christ is to walk the path

of the cross. trusting that resurrection

glory follows surrender.

So I would uh I want to I would ask you

to answer these questions for yourself

and these are things to keep in mind.

So you can do some things like begin

each morning by praying Lord make me

more like Jesus today. Choose one hidden

act of service each week. Practice

obedience by acting on a specific

prompting from God. Extend love to

someone difficult by a kind word or

deed. And reflect nightly. Did I show

Jesus in my words and actions today?

Being like Jesus means adopting his

humility, servantthood, obedience, and

love. It is not achieved

by effort alone, but by surrender to the

spirit's work. As we reflect Christ, we

bring his light into a dark and hurting

world.

So, I want to pray with you. I would

like you to focus on becoming more like

Jesus, even though we're in a very

broken world.

And to realize that this is what's most

important. It's more important than

career. It's more important than

success, notoriety, fame, or anything

else. It's about being like Jesus.

Heavenly Father, we thank thee for the

example of thy son. Lord Jesus, we

praise thee for the thy humility, thy

service, thy obedience, and thy love.

Forgive us for the times we have lived

for ourselves by thy spirit. Mold us

into thy likeness. Teach us to walk

humbly, serve faithfully, obey

willingly, and love unconditionally. May

our lives shine thy light in this dark

world in Jesus precious name. Amen. So,

I want to leave that with you for this

week. I want you to go out and be like

Jesus. Show somebody Christ's love. Give

them an opportunity to see Jesus in you.

And I guarantee you that you're going to

find your life much more fulfilling,

much more productive, and you're going

to find it a whole lot more peaceful.

So, thanks for being with me this

morning. We'll see you again next week.

And uh remember,

Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life

if you're willing to follow his lead.