Another key in discipleship is to ‘Become like Jesus’. The world would no doubt be a much more peaceful place if we all modelled our lives off Him. So that’s the goal, however we recognise becoming like Jesus doesn’t happen overnight, but is a continual transformation in partnership with the Holy Spirit.

If you have never memorised the following scriptures, can we encourage you to do so. These are a couple of those ‘foundational’ scriptures that will establish in you the joy of becoming more like Jesus.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Note the same word used in these scriptures – transform! The definition of ‘transform’ is to make a marked change in the form, nature, or appearance of something.

Consider the day you made a decision to follow Jesus, have you changed in nature or appearance since then that has been clearly noticeable to yourself and others? What about in the last 12 months? What about in the last week?

We’re all being transformed into ‘something’ every day, intentionally or unintentionally – and with the strength of the current culture we live in, if we leave our transformation to Sunday church and hopefully some regular Bible reading – it's highly likely the rising tide of the current culture may win! The most wonderful thing of being with Jesus here on this side of eternity, is that we get to become more like Him every single day! However, it doesn’t just happen. Much like becoming an accomplished athlete, we need to practice or train to be more like Jesus. Imagine us saying to Michael Jordan – you can be the best basketball player in the world, we’re now going to give you the manual showing you how to do that, pray over you, ask the Holy Spirit to empower you and it’ll happen! I think we all know that won’t be the case.

And it’s the same for our training or practice in being a disciple of Jesus. We know what the end goal is – it's to take on the inner life of Jesus Himself so that His teachings become second nature to us. And He’s given us every tool & resource in the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, anointed teaching, learnings from life experiences and the joy of living in community with each other - to assist us in reaching that transformational goal.

However, we have to ask for, lean into and activate all those things. There’s a well-known quote that says ‘without Him we can’t, without us He won’t.’ Our transformation is a journey that takes time, but it takes intentionality and focus on our behalf, in partnership with the Holy Spirit.

Every day you’re becoming someone? Who are you becoming? If you plot the trajectory of your character arc or current Christ likeness in 10, 20, 30 years – who do you see on the horizon? Based on your current practices, do you see Jesus expressed through your personality, your gender, your stage of life in greater measure? Or do you see someone else?