“Oh to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear
Oh to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my hear.”
by Thomas O. Chisholm
Old hymnals make great prayer books. You can open to a hymn and pray the verses. What a great prayer – “O to be like You Jesus! This is my constant longing and prayer!” Oh, I hope it is your prayer today. To be like Jesus.
There is no greater example of how to live, love or lead than the life of Jesus. He was a man like us, tempted in all ways. Yet He never sinned. He did not fall short of God’s glory.
He got angry and didn’t sin. He wept with His friends at the death of a family member. He enjoyed weddings and family parties. He went to church. He had picnics (on a very grand 5000+ scale!). He fished with friends and had bonfires on the beach.
He saw the best in people. And He saw the worst. Yet He always loved. Even knowing that He was to be betrayed, He loved Judas, was kind, and shared a meal with him. He didn’t ridicule His disciples when they failed. He spoke words of truth and life, giving them hope of restoration.
Oh to be like Jesus!
Jesus gave up everything so we could gain everything. He gave up heaven so we could have heaven. He gave up glory so we could experience God’s glory. The Sinless One took our sin and shame so we could stand faultless before Him for eternity.
Oh to be like Jesus!
He was moved with compassion when He saw the plight of the people. He grieved with those mourned. He felt our infirmities. He touched those that felt untouchable. He loved the outcasts. He forgave even His accusers. He loved well.
Oh to be like Jesus!
Jesus had a passion for the House of God. He was found teaching in the temple. He was faithful to the House of God. He had a zeal for the purity of God’s house being a House of Prayer and not a den of thieves.
Oh to be like Jesus!
He comforted the broken. He healed the sick. He delivered the demonized. He set captives free. He fed the hungry. He was hope to the hopeless. He loved all – men, women, Samaritans, Jews, young, old. He did not hinder the women or the children from coming to Him and learning from Him. He valued all people.
Oh to be like Jesus!
He sacrificed His sleep to pray. He went hungry seeking God’s anointing and power in His life. He had no place to even lay His head. He laid down His will for God’s will. He laid down His life for our salvation. He gave.
Oh to be like Jesus!
He rose early to seek the Father. He only did what He say the Father doing. He was led by the Spirit of God. He lived a transparent, authentic life with His disciples. He invested His all into His disciples. He trained. He walked and lived side by side His men. He answered question after question. He prepared them for their future.
Oh to be like Jesus!
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
Live like Jesus! Love like Jesus! Lead like Jesus!
Prayer for Today: Lord Jesus I want to be like You! I want to love like You! I want to lead like You. O to be like You is my constant longing and prayer! I’m done trying it my way. O to be like You is my only prayer today. I want to reveal Your ongoing glory on earth and in heaven to come. In my life Lord be glorified!
