Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 4:32; Ephesians 5:1 ESV).

This desire is my sincere plea to my Christian brothers and sisters: be like Jesus.

This plea is not a request for infallibility, not a demand for flawless living, and certainly not a naive expectation of perfection. Of course, we are human. Yes, we make mistakes... we have in the past and we will again.

My plea is for those who claim to be followers of Jesus — not government officials, not politicians, not sports figures, not superstars of the entertainment industry. My plea is for those who claim to call Jesus their Lord. If you claim to follow Him, follow Him. Please do your best to be like Him.

The conversations we have, the posts we make, the attitudes we display, the actions we advocate all matter. I have seen and heard these things done by my brothers and sisters. They have brought to my mind the words and the sentiment of the prayer of this old hymn.

Oh! to Be Like Thee
Thomas O. Chisholm (1897)

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, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand'ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th' anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Refrain:

Oh! to be like Thee, Oh! 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 heart.

Just be like Jesus.

When you air your opinions publicly, just be like Jesus.

When you engage in your heated debates about what is wrong with the world, just be like Jesus.

Before you demand your rights and express your frustrations over being mistreated, just be like Jesus.

When you are in the presence of children, and when you are teaching them how to get on in the world, just be like Jesus.

To my preaching friends...

When you position yourself as a spokesperson for God, just be like Jesus.

What are we showing them? Who are we showing them?
When you proclaim what you will or will not do as a citizen of your country, just be like Jesus.

When you are with your family, just be like Jesus.

When you are with your friends, just be like Jesus.

When you are tired and want to give up on the human race, just be like Jesus.

There was a time in the Lord's ministry when...

There were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."

Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus (John 12:20-22).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this is the plea. This is quite possibly the plea of many who are not within our circle of faith: "We would like to see Jesus."

What are we showing them?

Who are we showing them?

Oh! to be like Thee, Oh! 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 heart.

The apostle Paul said it this way:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31-33; 1 Corinthians 11:1)

This week: I want to be just like Jesus!

Images complementary of Free Bible Images and The Lumo Project.