How do you become more christlike?

[Tatie]

What do you do to be more like Christ in every day living? How are Christians to differ from the worldlly behavior? I know I am faithful and good inside, but sometimes I see that my behavior is no different than that of an unbeliever. I don't mean in the major things, but in the every day behavior, like getting overwhelmed at work or getting mad while driving, etc.

[martyr]

The Christian life is not one that is meant to be lived in defeat.  Daily submission of self to God is a must.  That will keep us from being overconfident and unjustly cocky.  Definitely start the day in prayer, and continue praying throughout the day.  Bible study, meditation, reading, memorization, etc....

We must remember that God will not let anything just happen to us that we can't overcome(1 Cor. 10:13).  We also must remember to not willingly invite evil into our lives.  Part of becoming Christlike will involve "growing pains"

There is so much more that could be said here.  What a wonderful question to consider.

[Tatie]

Thank you, Martyr! I will implement your advice right away and begin my day in prayer and use every break no matter how little to stay connected with God.

[Guest Michael]

Hi Tatie,

I agree with Martyr but would be quick to add this. Obedience to the commands of Christ will transform you into his image. The commandments are specially chosen of God that if obeyed they make you like Jesus.

Those who do not obey his word will find it impossible to be like him.                                  peace, mike

[Guest Woggy]

I think sometimes we make all of these rules for ourselves - I WILL read my Bible for so many minutes a day, I WILL be a good person today, I WILL follow every commandment........and we fail so miserably because we're trying so hard to be something we're not.

I find that just stopping for a minute, every now and then, and just TALKING to God helps..........those little moments when the traffic is crazy, or the boss is a pain.......and you just stop, and realize that God is in control, and all you have to do is THANK Him for who He is.

I get a bit annoyed at Christians who get caught in the trap of "doing Christian things."  It's all about the relationship - the close, personal, endearing relationship with Him who is ALWAYS there.  He knows what we're about........we don't have to do, do, do all the time.  Just be in His presence, just BE!  

Oh, how He loves you and me!

[Tatie]

I wasn't talking about rules, I was talking about Christlike behavior becoming a second nature...

[nebula]

How are Christians to differ from the worldlly behavior? I know I am faithful and good inside, but sometimes I see that my behavior is no different than that of an unbeliever.

Hey, Tatie!

I appreciate your heart in this matter.  Being more like Christ is something we all aspire to and pray to achieve.  

I have a friend who is a Buddhist, and we on occassion have talks about character and spirituality and stuff like that.  She's always getting on me about "what makes Christianity different than any other religion?"  But the focus is always on "being good."  I keep trying to explain to her (note "try")that Christianity is not about making yourself a better person, it's about Jesus - what He did for us.  It's about having a relationship with God.

Yes, we do need to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), but the mark of discipleship is that our transformation is the Lord's work in our lives.  We don't achieve godliness, He works godliness into our lives.  Of course, we have to allow this work, and we have to make choices, that is, we do have to choose godliness when we recognize the choice to be made.  That's part of the problem; we don't always recognize the choice.

We all grow up with our hurts and disfunctions, and incorrect training, and bad examples to follow.  So, having a better character involves, recognizing the error, knowing the alternative, and then having the strength to carry through with the better alternative.  This can be tricky, because, in my case, I may not have the strength to follow the better alternative (I still get either angry or depressed when faced with an issue in which I feel helpless to change or work around or overcome in any manner, shape, or form).  

So, how is "Christ-likeness" different than worldly behavior?

Mark 12:29-31 - "The most important [command]," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Mark 10:18-21 - "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."  

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Being "good" is not really the issue.  Character development comes along as the Holy Spirit surfaces areas in your life that need to be fixed.  (I have come to learn that, for the most part, acts of sin come out of some unhealed wounding in your life.)   Then you can find Scriptures that deal with these issues.  Get discouraged?  Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thes. 5:16-18) .  Repeat the verse to yourself and then put it into practice.  It's an act of conscious will.  

But real Christ-likeness comes not from FRUIT.  Christ-likeness comes from BEING GRAFTED INTO THE VINE.  Jesus spent many hours a day alone with the Father.  This is where the heart of Christ-likeness comes.  It's not about how great you can be; it's about how great God is.  The more you spend time in His presence, the more He works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

Make sense?

::

[Guest BlessEwe]

I try to start my day in prayer, and devotions....its so nice and quiet before my family gets moving....I pray for Gods Hand, direction, and protection around my family.....About 1 hour after things get moving I am already blowing it.... So as the day continues on I find myself having to reconnect, and center myself back with God.......Some nights I go to bed exhausted after having a rollercoaster day, and I am so Thankful for Gods Grace......

[Tatie]

Thank you, nebula! Yes, I agree, it shouldn't be about beeing good but about Christ. I am trying to learn to handle my frustrations in a more christian manner. Aren't we supposed to do that? Thank you for your advice to spend more time with God and to remember the commendments.

[Guest Woggy]

I wasn't talking about rules, I was talking about Christlike behavior becoming a second nature...

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I was basically saying the same thing........maybe I just didn't say it right.

.........sorry.............