“I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 NIV

All Years’ Resolutions Part 1

I was going over my 2017 Resolutions as a reminder of the goals I had set for myself for this year. I call them “all year’s resolutions” because they need to be looked at each month.

My ultimate New Year’s goal was to become more like Jesus in 365 days. The only way I knew how to do that was to learn more of Jesus. He not only came to save us, but to show us by His example how He expected us to live our lives. His Word gives me a wealth of information for living by His example.

So I ask myself, “Do I look like Jesus?” The Bible lists the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5: 22-23: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” It would be safe to say, then, that my life should be demonstrating each and every fruit of the Spirit. If I don’t look like Jesus, why not?

If I want to look more like Jesus in 365 days, what does it take?

• Jesus spent time with Our Father in heaven very early every morning.

• Jesus loved His disciples (He called them “friends”) even when they let Him down, disappointed Him, and even betrayed Him.

• Jesus reached out to help others and to meet their needs.

• Jesus was obedient to our Heavenly Father. He willingly suffered unspeakable torture, and crucifixion.

• Jesus forgave the most heinous crimes committed against Him physically, mentally, and emotionally—even betrayal.

• Jesus gave up more than I can imagine by coming as a human to show us the way.

• Jesus is interceding for us even as I am writing this devotion. Do I pray for others in this way?

If I want to look like Jesus, can I do any less than I see in His example?

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” (Colossians 1:9-11 NIV).

“I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

May the world now see Jesus in my skin.

“Thank You Jesus, for sacrificing more than I can imagine, coming to show me by example how to live my life here on earth.”