23 April 2020

TO BE LIKE JESUS

By John Ollis

I really felt strongly impressed to write my last blog on the topic of PATIENCE, something that most of us have problems with from time to time. The Lord then began to drop thoughts into my heart, for example, PATIENCE is one of the 9 fold fruit of the Spirit  that Paul writes about in Gal. 5:222-23. I then remember seeing a drawing of a  flower with a large centre on which was written LOVE, then on the 8 petals the words

  •  JOY
  •  PEACE
  •  LONGSUFFERING
  •  KINDNESS
  •  GOODNESS
  •  FAITHFULNESS
  •  GENTLENESS
  •  SELF CONTROL

THESE ARE 9 EXPRESSIONS OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GOD

Having LOVE at the centre of the flower reminds us of Paul’s words in Rom. 5:5 NKJV The LOVE of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. This happened the day we were born again of the Spirit.

I was then reminded of Peter’s words in 1 Peter 1:23 NKJV having been born again, not of corruptible seed  (SPERMA) but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

The day we were born again, God placed into the womb of our heart, his divine  sperma.

WE NOW HAVE GOD’S DNA PLANTED IN US

Peter in his 2nd. letter tells us in his introduction in 1 Peter 1: 2-8 NKJV

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power HAS GIVEN US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, THAT THROUGH THESE YOU MAY BE PARTAKES OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

NLT In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.

I have added verses 5-10 in the NLT, to open up this glorious truth more and more to us.

We think of Peter as the burly rugged fisherman, not the Theologian like Paul, yet there is such a depth of truth in his teaching here..

We must co-operate with the Lord, and feed (ADD)  to the DNA God has placed within us, please note many of the fruit of the Spirit  are recorded there in verses 5-7.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO BE PARTAKERS OF DIVINE NATURE (V.4)

Peter tells us that God has given us EVERYTHING we need, this includes the EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES v.4. All this we find in the Word of God.

God placing His DNA in us is the kick start He gives us, and if we keep adding TOO and co-operating, BEING EVEN MORE DILIGENT V.10. and meditating on the Word of God, and continually surrendering to the Lord, we are guaranteed God’s blessing and power and holiness in our lives.

One of my Mentorees shared with me this morning in our video WhatsApp session the blessing he received from meditating on Eph. 5:10 NLT And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].

I couldn’t help but notice verse 9 NKJV for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

Do you remember this old chorus,?

To be like Jesus
To be like Jesus
All I ask – to be like Him
All through life’s journey
From earth to glory
All I ask – to be like Him.

MAY IT BE THE PASSIONATE DESIRE OF OUR HEART.